Solaris farm : a story of the twentieth century

//:,

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

GIFT OF

James R. K. Kanter

CAPTAIN MILAN C. EDSON.

SOLARIS FARM;

A STORY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY,

BY

MILAN C. EDSON

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR

AT

1728 New Jersey Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C.
IN THE YEAR 1900.

PRB,SS WORK BY BYRON S.

COPYRKiHT, 1900

BY MILAN 0. EDSON.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

LOAN STACK
GIFT

DEDICATION.

This book, is dedicated to the sons and daughters
of the farms of the Republic as an expression of the
author's realization, that Agricultural people con
stitute a large majority of its working units : That
as such, its destiny is in the hands of their boys and
girls, as its future guardians, fathers and mothers :
That for the reasons stated, they should become its
dominant thinkers and leaders : That Agriculture
is the true basis of industrial and commercial suc
cess ; hence, it should be made the most noble and
pleasing of all occupations : That the alarming en
croachments of land monopoly, and the inability of
the small farm to meet the expense of using the
latest and best machinery, threatens the total ex
tinction of all land-owning farmers, and of their
consequent reduction to the dependent caste of farm
laborers : That the isolated life and the severe toil
of the small farm, has a dangerously depressing
effect on the minds of its people : That all of these
things, seem to demand the changes suggested by
the contents of this book.

006

PREFACE.

Strong in my convictions that all civilizations are
false, which do not civilize the lowest units of any
social order, I have written Solaris Farm as my con
tribution towards the improvement of agriculturists
as a class, of the race as a whole ; towards the es
tablishment of a truer civilization, organized for the
purpose of securing the same degree of progress for
the lowest orders of humanity, which have been or
can be attained by the highest. In any social or
political fabric, wide differences of wealth, of edu
cation, of refinement in its sub-divisions are danger
ous, they swiftly lead to the introduction of caste.
Caste is the dry rot, which, when once established,
will surely destroy all progress, all vitality, by
slowly eating away the social, industrial and political
life of the nation.

In preparing this book for the press, I wish to
acknowledge my obligations to the following authors,
for much valuable information and inspiration : To
Elmer Gates, the discoverer of new domains in
Psychology, the inventor and discoverer of the art
of Mentation, the founder of the Elmer Gates Labo
ratory, at Chevy Chase, Maryland : To Henry George,
the author of "Progress and Poverty : " To Edward
Bellamy, the author of "Equality," and "Looking
Backward : " And lastly to that greatest of living

PREFACE.

Frenchmen, M. Godin, the author of "Social So
lutions," and the founder of the " Familistere, " with
its famous industrial enterprise, located at the city
of Guise, France ; the grandest co-operative success
of the age !

A last word to my readers : Do you wish to join
forces with the humanitarians ? If so, always strive
so to educate the people, that they may fully under
stand the true object and purpose of human life;
and the necessity for the upbuilding of social, in
dustrial and political institutions, in harmony with
the demands of that purpose. This will require un
selfish, persistent, co-operative effort and thought.
In no other way, can you so greatly aid the cause of
progress.

MILAN C. EDSON.
No. 1728 N. J. Ave., N. W.

WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPT. IST, 1900.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

1. A FARMER'S SON WITH PROGRESSIVE TENDENCIES 1

2. THE OUTLINES OF A GREAT PROBLEM 4

3. AN ADVERTISEMENT INTRODUCES THE HEROINE 9

4. THE STORY OF A STONE AND WHAT CAME AFTER 10

5. FAIRY FERN COTTAGE 27

6. FENNIMORE FEN WICK , 34

7. AN ALASKA KINDERGARTEN 37

8. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE "FAIRIES." 41

9. THE PROBLEM vs. A GOOD MAN WHO Is AS RICH AS

HE Is NOBLE 49

10. THE REAPING OF THE DEATH ANGEL 53

11. THE MARTINA MINE 58

12. SPIRIT AND MORTAL — FATHER AND DAUGHTER 61

13. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 63

14. THE ETHICS OF PLANETARY EVOLUTION 71

15. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN SOCIAL EVO

LUTION.., 75

16. FlLLMORE AND FERN 87

17. SOLARIS FARM 93

18. CLUB LIFE AT SOLARIS 112

19. FENWICK HALL 121

20. THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA 133

21. His WOOING PROSPERS WHILE OUR HERO ENJOYS His

FIRST VACATION - 141

22. A SURPRISE PARTY AND RECEPTION COMBINED 150

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

23. FORMATION OF POPULAR SCIENCE CLUBS 160

24. A TWENTIETH CENTURY LOVE LETTER 102

25. THE REPLY 171

26. FERN FENWICK ARRIVES AT SOLARIS 179

27. THE FESTIVAL 185

28. THE ORATION 187

29. THE STORY OF GILBERT GERRISH ; OR, THE STRENGTH OF

THE WEAKEST UNIT 216

30. OUR HERO AND HEROINE Discuss AGRICULTURAL STA

TISTICS 227

31. THE DISCUSSION GROWS MORE INTERESTING 248

32. SOCIAL SOLUTIONS 256

33. SOLARIS SCRIP 270

34. THE INSURANCE OFFERED BY CO-OPERATIVE FARMING 273

35. THE MOTHERS' CLUB 287

36. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN THE CAPITAL

AND LABOR PROBLEM 299

37. THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM TRIUMPHANT 313

38. THE KINDERGARTEN AT SOLARIS 327

39. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR 346

40. THE COMING ERA OF GOOD ROADS 362

41. CO-OPERATIVE ETHICS 371

42. RURAL LIFE UNDER THE REIGN OF Co OPERATION 387

43. A TWENTIETH CENTURY HONEYMOON 41(>

44. THE XE\V CIU'SADI: 493

SOLABIS FARM.

A STORY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

CHAPTER I.
A FARMER'S SON WITH PROGRESSIVE TENDENCIES.

ONE bright summer afternoon, near the close of
the month of August, 1905, two young college chums,
Fillmore Flagg and George Gaylord, just met after a
long separation, were seated on a rustic bench near
a well-appointed mountain hotel. The superb view
before them was well worthy of their half -hour's si
lent admiration. Full one thousand feet above the
sea stands "Hotel Mount Meenahga" in the heart of
the ' 'Shawangunks, " a mountain range in the state of
New York, famed for its scenic beauty, cool dry air,
pure water and commanding elevation. Looking
northward a most charming landscape presents it
self, a wonderful group of mountain ranges, stretch
ing for seventy-five miles from near the Delaware
Water-gap eastward to and including the Alpine
peaks of the famous Catskills. Within this lovely
semicircle lie the highlands of Ulster, Sullivan and
Orange, lifted like seats in some vast amphitheater,
tier above tier, while nearer a beautiful mingling of
villages and hamlets, broad fields, green woods and
silvery water-courses, constitutes a picture of en
chanting beauty — a picture constantly changed,
1

2 SOLARIS FARM.

shaded and intensified by broad patches of moving
shadow and sunlight from a great fleet of fleecy
clouds sailing so swiftly, so silently and so majestic
ally across the summer sky.

"How exquisitely beautiful!" murmured Fillmore
Flagg, "I wish I had my camera that I might make
it captive, carry it hence and keep it, a rare token of
beauty, a source of joy forever."

At this point, a brief description of the young men
will serve by way of a further introduction.

Fillmore Flagg was fully six feet in height, though
his compact, well-rounded figure made him seem less
tall ; his straight, muscular limbs were in harmony
with his deep chest and symmetrical shoulders. His
rather large but beautifully turned neck and throat
rose straight from the spinal column, firmly support
ing a noble head, everywhere evenly and smoothly
developed. His thick, soft brown hair, worn rather
short, was inclined to curl, giving to the outlines of
the head a still more heroic size. His forehead was
large, full, dome shaped and remarkably smooth ; the
brows, finely penciled and well arched, were matched
in color and slenderness by a short moustache which
seemed a shade or two darker than the hair. His
eyes were large, very expressive, of a soft dark
brown, bright and flashing with emotion, full of pen
sive light when partially shaded by their thick silken
lashes ; his smiling glance possessed a curiously fas
cinating magnetic charm. The attractiveness of the
entire face and neck was intensified by the wonder
ful marble-like smoothness of skin which accompa
nies that rare, pale olive tint of complexion. A soft
Alpine hat and a neat business suit of dark clothing
completes this picture of the personal appearance of
Fill in ore Flagg. Later on we shall learn to know

SOLARIS FARM. 3

him better by his genial temperament, mental and
moral characteristics.

George Gaylord was above medium height, slender
and pale, slightly inclined to stoop; wore glasses, and
a thick black moustache which entirely concealed his
thin lips. His heavy growth of long, coal black hair
was naturally bent on falling over his high white
forehead. His large black eyes were deeply set
under heavy dark brows, more square than arched.
His straight nose and smoothly shaven chin were set
in line with his high square forehead. While both
face and figure suggested the student, a tall silk hat
and a square cut, closely buttoned black frock coat,
stamped him at once as a clerical student.

"Tell me, George," said Fillmore Flagg, "how
have you fared since we parted, and what are your
ambitions and plans for the future ?"

"There is not much to tell you, Fillmore. As you
know, when I left college, my mother was a widow
with a very limited income, which made it difficult to
meet my college expenses. Mother had set her heart
on my entering the ministry. Her only brother, a
childless widower, and a man of some wealth and
great influence in the church affairs of his prosper
ous New England town, promised his assistance.
Behold the result ! I have just graduated with fair
honors from a prominent theological institute. I
am to take charge, this coming November, of a large
church and congregation in the manufacturing city
where my uncle resides. Uncle George, for whom I
was named, is now with my mother visiting friends
in New York. They have kindly selected as my
future wife, my uncle's favorite niece and prospec
tive heiress to his wealth. When last we met, four
years ago, Martha Merritt was a sweet little miss in

4 SOLARIS FARM.

short dresses ; but gave promise, even then, of un
folding into a lovely woman. To tell you the truth,
under the circumstances, I am more than half pre
pared to fall in love with her when we meet again.
However ambitious my day dreams in the past may
have been, a not unkindly fate has woven the web of
destiny for me and fixed my future life work without
much effort on my part ; and yet I am quite content
to have it so. Two weeks ago I left the heat and
bustle of the great city for a month's rest in this
quiet place. I little dreamed of meeting you here ; I
need not say I am delighted : I am, thoroughly so. I
find you looking your best, yet I can easily perceive
you have been hard at work as usual. I do not be
lieve you could possibly keep still and rest, even for
one short week, let the inducement to do so be ever
so great. And now, my dear Fillmore, since I have,
so to speak, brought myself up to date for your ben
efit, may I ask for a similar service on your part?"

CHAPTER II.

THE OUTLINES OF A GREAT PROBLEM.

FILLMORE FLAGG, seemingly self absorbed, re
mained silent for some moments, softly stroking his
chin with his strong, shapely hand, his dreamy eyes
with far-off vision intent, apparently noting details
in the hazy borders of the distant landscape. At
last, turning to his friend with a hearty hand clasp
he said: "George Gay lord, I congratulate you ; your
future is bright; you deserve it, your mother de
serves it. The fates have been very generous with

SOLARIS FARM. 5

you. I am glad you are content to accept the good
things of life which they bring to you.

"As for myself, my lines of life are cast in swift
waters. My environments, in their reaction upon
me from within, seem to develop a determined will
to wrench from the rocks of destiny by ceaseless and
persistent effort, whatever gifts I am to possess or
enjoy. Work I must. Obstacles seem only to stimu
late my ambition to overcome them. Yet I am pas
sionately fond of the beautiful ; poetry, music and
art in all the loveliness of its varied forms ; they af
fect me profoundly. This poetic side of my nature
I inherit from my dear, devoted mother — my highest
ideal of all that is good, lovely and angelic in woman.
Sadly and often have I missed her loving tenderness,
her watchful care, her beautiful smile. The shadowy
Angel of Death claimed her and bore her from my
sight when I was but four years old. Young as I
was at that time, this beautiful world has never
seemed quite so bright to me since.

"My father, Fayette Flagg, was a noble man of
sterling worth. He belonged to a class of thrifty,
hard-working, pioneer farmers, on the broad, fertile
prairies of the state of Nebraska. Until the death
of my mothex* he was happy and prosperous, hope
ful, helpful and brave. After that great blow came
to him, he recovered slowly, as from a long, severe
illness and never again was quite so courageous and
strong, or as hopeful as before.

"With the advent of the last decade of the nine
teenth century a feeling of foreboding unrest seemed
to brood over the western farmer : blight and drouth
destroyed his best crops just when they seemed to
promise most ; farm stock had to be reduced. The
good years were few, the bad years were many. The

6 SOLARIS FARM.

great strain of carrying a large outfit of expensive
agricultural machinery which on a small farm could
be used with profit only from ten to forty days in the
year, began to be felt. The debts, incurred by the
purchase of the machinery, were growing steadily
larger. With each renewal of the mortgage on the
farm, came the demand for a bonus and a higher
rate of interest. Meanwhile the price of land and of
all farm products kept on falling, falling steadily
year after year. Only taxes and freight rates from
farm to market kept up. High rates of interest and
of freight swallowed up everything and seemed to
accelerate the terrible shrinkage of values. My
father found, to his amazement, that his farm was
now mortgaged for more than it would sell for under
the hammer. He gave up the struggle in despair.
The savings of a lifetime, his health, strength and
courage all exhausted ; his homestead and farm sold
from under him ; he lost all hope and in a few short
weeks died, a broken-hearted man. I went to him a
few months before the end : I tried all in my power
to save him, but alas! I could do nothing but bury
his body beside that of my mother and come away,
filled with the determination of solving the most dif
ficult problem of a lifetime — a problem that lies at
the very foundation of the permanency of this repub
lic. 'How to keep the farm lands of America in the
hands of the native farmers of this and the coming
generations? How to help them to help themselves?'
The decree has gone forth. The small farm and
farmer must go. They are doomed. A great wave
of land monopoly, rolled up by a large class of very
shrewd, far-seeing capitalists, is even now sweeping
across the continent. Seventy-five years hence only
n, pauperized peasantry of ignorant farm laborers,

SOLARIS FARM. 7

bound to the soil as hopelessly as the slave to the
master, will coin their lives of ceaseless, unrequited
toil to swell the rent roll of the non-resident land
owner, who, as lord of the domain, through his heart
less agent, will exact his tribute to the uttermost far
thing. Must the sons and daughters of the farms
of this republic come to the bitter heritage of such a
life? Surely! We have already seen the beginning
of the end ! The sad case of my father can be dupli
cated a hundred times or more in almost every
county of our western states. States that are in
calculably rich in their magnificent domain of broad
acres of the most fertile land the sun ever shone
upon; capable, when permanently placed in the
hands of a properly equipped, scientifically educated
class of people, of producing the food supply of the
world : but under the blight of the monopoly system,
history will repeat itself. Our agricultural interests
will languish and wither ; dependent manufactures,
and all branches of exchange and commerce, must,
in time, follow. What then will happen to society?
To government of both state and nation? In the
face of this appalling situation, how stupendous the
problem ! By what effort can a great counter tidal-
wave be set in motion upon whose crest the salt and
salvation of the republic, the sons and -daughters of
American farms, may be carried safely to the perma
nent heritage of the soil they till ? As in the past,
so in the future must we look to them for our true
reformers, leaders, thinkers and statesmen./ They
are endowed by birth, by constant association in
youth with soil and sunlight, fields and grass, green
meadows and mossy brooks and, best of all, doubly
endowed by the inbreathing of ozone laden breezes
from mountain and forest, with that rare combina-

8 SOLARIS FARM.

tion of nerve, moral, mental and physical stamina,
courage and patriotism which is necessary to pre
serve this republic and to keep it, ever and always,
a model of progressive excellence for all the nations
of the earth. This means the embodiment by them
of more and better mind, that they may do better,
wiser and more dominant thinking ; be able to com
prehend the sum of human knowledge to such an ex
tent that they may add to it ; to so understand their
lives, and their relations to the Universe around
them, that they may become masters of themselves
and their environments — a law unto themselves — fit
ting them for a perfect citizenship of a perfected
republic. This most desirable of all accomplish
ments, requires better surroundings, more leisure
and opportunity for self -improvement, more money,
shorter hours of more remunerative labor — labor
transformed from a hated drudgery to a desirable
occupation. Behold, friend Gaylord, you have be
fore you the outlines of the problem. Can you sug
gest anything towards its solution?"

"I can suggest nothing," said George Gaylord;
"You have stated the case with the clearness and
eloquence of a Henry George. If what you say is
true, the problem is a very serious one. But are
you quite sure the facts will fully warrant your
conclusions? If so, what are your plans and what
have you been doing towards working out this puz
zling question?"

"Oh yes!" said Fillmore Flagg, "I am very sure
of my position. The more I study the question, the
firmer my conviction that I have understated the
case instead of overstating it. I am studying the
agricultural question from every possible standpoint
and I propose to make it a life work. Every branch

SOLARIS FARM. 9

of science may aid me ; I must master at least a por
tion of each. Since we left college I have become
fairly proficient in surveying and civil engineering ;
have devoted considerable time to photography; I
am classed as a skilled electrician ; I have thoroughly
mastered agricultural chemistry and several of the
more important branches of that interesting and
most wonderful science. As you know, I am very
fond of mechanics and of all kinds of machinery. I
could not rest until I had gained a practical knowl
edge of all kinds of tools and learned how to repair
or construct most kinds of machinery. Two months
ago I completed a general course of study at the
Philadelphia School of Industrial Art, which, for
the especial work I have in view, I consider by far
the most beneficial and practicable of all my acquire
ments. I am now resting, cogitating and waiting for
the golden opportunity which, sooner or later, must
come, to enable me to commence my work."

CHAPTER III.

AN ADVERTISEMENT INTRODUCES THE HEROINE.

"BY THE way, I have something to show you. I
clipped this advertisement from a leading New York
daily paper this morning, and have read it carefully
many times. Somehow, I have an abiding convic
tion that it will lead me to the high road, on the way
towards the successful solution of my problem. I
am going to apply in person."

Full of curiosity, George Gaylord took the clip
ping and slowly read aloud:

10 SOLARIS FARM.

"WANTED : A skilled mechanic, qualified to act in
the capacity of landscape gardener and agricultural
chenrst. Applicant must be a strong, healthy young
man, of good habits, pleasing address; with a gen
eral knowledge of business methods, and an excel
lent moral character. Qualifications must be well
attested by recommendations from reliable parties.
A graduate of the Philadelphia School of Industrial
Art is preferred. Salary liberal. Apply in person
at the office of

BITTERWOOD & BARNARD, Atty's.,
Atlantic Building, Washington, D. C."

"This is curious! It seems to point directly to
you, Fillmore. I do wonder in what peculiar ca
pacity you are to act, and who your real employer
is to be? I shall be full of unsatisfied curiosity until
I know the sequel."

At this moment George Gaylord was suddenly in
terrupted by an an unlooked-for gust of wind whirl
ing around the shoulders of the big rock standing
above and behind them. The fluttering paper slipped
from his fingers and went sailing away over the tree
tops, down the mountain side, with that erratic up
and down, eddying motion peculiar to run away, fly
away papers. In an instant both young men were
upon their feet, intently watching the uncertain
flight of the clipping. A few moments later it fell
to the ground, just at the feet of two ladies who,
with heads protected from the sun by large parasols,
were slowly walking around the bend of the broad,
well kept road, winding down the mountain side.
The younger of the two ladies picked up the adver
tisement, hurriedly scanned it, and then raised her
eyes to discover the two young men as probable
owners of the truant paper.

"Ah!" said George Gaylord, "I recognize those

SOLARIS FARM. 11

people. It is Miss Penwick and her travelling com
panion. Come along Fillmore, let us join them at
once and claim your lost clipping. The opportunity
for an introduction to two very interesting ladies,
who are among the most noted guests of the hotel,
is too good to be lost."

Accordingly they hurried down the steep path
that joined the road near where the ladies were still
waiting, at a point full three hundred feet below.

Approaching, with hats in hand, George Gaylord
said : "Allow me, Miss Fenwick, to introduce to you
my friend and college chum, Fillmore Flagg : for a
peculiar purpose of his own he wishes to regain pos
session of that flighty paper which, fortunately for
him, the prank playing wind carried to your feet but
a moment ago. "

With a slight inclination of her queenly head, she
turned with a dazzling smile to meet the inquiring
glance of Fillmore Flagg. In a clear musical voice,
full of thrilling cadence and power, she said: "Mr.
Flagg, if you are particularly interested in this pa
per, I am very sure I am quite happy to meet you,
and take pleasure in returning it to you now ; I trust
that we may have the opportunity of becoming bet
ter acquainted before you leave these lovely moun
tains." Turning to her companion she continued:
"Permit me, gentlemen, to introduce my friend and
companion, Mrs. Bainbridge ; Mr. George Gaylord,
who is just entering the ministry, and his college
friend, Mr. Fillmore Flagg."

Mrs. Bainbridge responded with a pleasant smile.
She was a tall, well formed, well preserved woman
of forty ; full of a quiet dignity, with an air of refine
ment that fitted her like a garment. Her heavy
dark hair, coiled high on her shapely head, was

12 SOLARIS FARM.

just slightly silvered with gray and seemed to be a
fitting foil to her large melancholy black eyes— eyes
that from their slumbering depths seemed to impress
the beholder with suggestions of some mysterious
power, gleaming messages, like beacon flashes, from
her inner life. With her becoming dress of rich,
dark cloth, gloves and parasol to match, she looked
the cultured lady to perfection.

Turning her steps up the mountain, Fern Fenwick
said : "Gentlemen, as it is near the hour for supper,
we had best return to the hotel at once. I think too,
by this time the mail from the station must have ar
rived. " Fillmore Flagg was at her side in an instant,
choosing the side opposite the parasol, which gave
him a clear view of her charming profile. George
Gaylord and Mrs. Bainbridge followed a little more
slowly. The conversation soon became animated.

While they are thus occupied let us try to get a
more complete picture of Miss Fern Fenwick. Her
round, exquisitely proportioned figure was of me
dium height, straight as an arrow, full of grace with
every movement. Her quick, firm, elastic step was
Youth personified: a charming maiden, she, of twenty
summers. The artistic outlines of her plump arms
and shoulders, beautifully modelled bust, throat and
neck, so admirably proportioned, would have satis
fied the most carping critic ; poet or painter, he
would have pronounced them a dream of perfect
symmetry. Her queenly shaped head, so gracefully
poised, like a clear cut cameo, wras a poem of intel
lectual development on lines of rarest beauty. Her
thick, glossy hair of dark chestnut brown, fine as
spun silk and inclined to a wavy crimp, was artis
tically coiled in a most becoming style ; small ears of
perfect shape, and transparently pink, were set close

SOLARIS FARM. 13

to the head. The curve of the brow, in perfect line
with the pleasing oval of both cheek and chin; a
Grecian nose and cherub mouth completed the per
fect contour of a face and head of marvellous beauty
— a beauty made more brilliant by large, lustrous
eyes of blended sapphire and amethyst, flashing jew
els of deep violet blue, so clearly expressing the
varying emotions by their ever changing tints of
sparkling light. Her dress, a close fitting gown of
rich, soft, silver gray material, was stylishly made,
with a narrow line of lovely lace at the throat ; per
fect fitting gloves of the same shade of gray, with a
parasol to match, completed a costume that seemed
to bring out and intensify a most charming complex
ion of pale pink and white, faultlessly smooth and
transparently pure : at once indicative and prophetic
of a strong vital temperament, perfect mental and
physical health; pure, highly cultured mind and a
wealth of personal magnetism — that silent charm of
mysterious potency — pervading and surrounding her
like the perfume of sweet flowers, winning the un
sought admiration, friendship and fidelity of all who
came within the radiance of her powerful magnetic
aura. All this, and more, Fillmore Flagg perceived
and felt. He walked and talked as one in a dream.
Never before had he met so fair a vision of female
loveliness, with grace so winning, gestures so per
fect and voice so musical. His heart, overflowing
with a new ecstatic emotion, paid silent homage to
this queenly creature. He was lost in admiration.
Swallowed up and absorbed by the first incoming
wave of a great love. He was lifted out of himself,
above and beyond all gross things of earth, into a
heaven of pure delight. His better nature was
thrilled and profoundly moved. He felt that in the

14 SOLARIS FARM.

presence of this pure, angelic woman he could never
again do an unworthy act. A life work, up to the
standard of his highest ideal, was a tribute of devo
tion he would willingly lay at her feet.

All too soon for Fillmore Flagg the moments flew
by. Almost before he was aware of it they were as
cending the steps of the hotel. Pausing on the
broad veranda for a moment before separating, Fern
Fenwick said : ' 'Gentlemen, Mrs. Bainbridge and
myself have planned for a carriage drive to-morrow
to Sam's Point. We have two seats in our convey
ance at your disposal and would be delighted to have
you accompany us. May we hope that you both can
come with us?"

Fillmore Flagg and George Gaylord both eagerly
accepted the invitation, the ladies passed on to their
rooms, while the young men turned their steps once
more to the rustic bench to enjoy the magnificent
sunset view of the landscape they had so much ad
mired earlier in the day.

CHAPTER IV.

THE STORY OF A STONE AND WHAT CAME AFTER.

SAM'S POINT, the crowning backbone of the high
est mountain in the Shawangunk range, bends away
from the general course of its fellows apparently for
the especial purpose of giving the mountain climber,
by its isolation, a commanding view in almost every
direction except to the north-east. For miles in ex
tent the flat, rocky top of this crown forms a prome
nade of magnificent proportions up amid the clouds.

SOLARIS FARM. 15

In shape it is a long, slender triangle, about three
miles from its base westward to the point where its
highest altitude is reached, two thousand three hun
dred and forty feet above tide-water. Cradled in its
rocky bosom, near the base of the triangle, lies a
crystal lake — one hundred and fifty acres of spark
ling water. At this point the promenade is fully
three-fourths of a mile wide, gradually narrowing to
a width of less than one hundred feet at the extreme
point. The long battlemented sides of this lofty tri
angle, like some mighty fortress, grim and frowning,
are protected and supported by perpendicular cliffs
of black rock, rising like some bastioned wall of ter
rifying proportions, two hundred feet above the
shoulder of the mountain. In a sheltered nook,
near the point, about five hundred feet below the
base of the cliffs, stands the Sam's Point Hotel,
scarcely more than a cottage in size. Here Fern
Fenwick's party left the carriage. Taking the nar
row, zig-zag pathway that led to the cliffs and often
pausing to admire the immensity and grandeur of
the black rock palisades towering so far above them,
they soon found themselves under the nose of the
point of rocks. Entering the crevice in the cliffs
known as "The Chimney Stairway," they commenced
the steep and toilsome climb to the summit ; Fillmore
Flagg taking the lead and assisting Miss Fenwick,
George Gaylord performing the same service for
Mrs. Bainbridge ; fifteen minutes later they stood, al
most breathless, upon the summit, the blue sky all
about them, a precipice on either hand where shim
mering, giddy space seemed to yawn so frightfully
near. Meanwhile a strong, buffeting wind tugged at
ribbons and capes, hats and bonnets, so furiously
that walking was hazardous ; it gave one such an

16 SOLARIS FARM.

uneasy sensation of giddiness and unstable equilib
rium generally, that the temptation to fly over the
edge of the cliff was hard to resist. A huge egg-
shaped boulder, twenty-five feet in height and as
large as a house, poised rather unsteadily on its
rounded base, was quite near and gave promise of
protection from the violence of the wind. With one
accord our party scrambled towards it, the ladies
clinging tightly to their escorts with one hand, a
firm grip on hat or bonnet with the other. Thus
sheltered, and more at ease, they slowly drank in
the glorious vision which greeted the eye on every
hand. Looking down as from a balloon, at the foot
of the mountain, on the north side, the eye was
charmed by the length and beauty of the Rondout
Valley, through which ran the Delaware and Hud
son Canal, and the Rondout River. For miles on
either side of canal and river the valley was made
more lovely by its checkered farms and gleaming
white villages. Directly at the foot of the mountain
on the south side, the broader valley of the Wallkill
presented an equally beautiful and diversified picture
of farm, hamlet and village. Beyond these, in every
direction save to the north-east, vast stretches of
country lay spread out like a map ; the mountains
far and near, so dwarfed as to give to the surface
the appearance of billowy plains, almost level where
they approached the edge of the horizon. The won
derful extent and scope of the view was bounded by
the line of the horizon, at least one hundred miles
distant. Three-fourths of this sweeping circle re
sponded to the unaided vision, disclosing the blue
hills and hazy mountain peaks located in five states :
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut
and Massachusetts, altogether presenting in its im-

SOLARIS FARM. 17

mensity a landscape as variegated and charming as
it was wondrously beautiful and attractive — a mar
vellous picture of indescribable loveliness never to
be forgotten.

"How inspiringly magnificent!" said Pillmore
Flagg : "All the sublimity of my nature is satisfied."

"And I," said Fern Fenwick, "am too profoundly
impressed to talk. I would that I could spend hours
here in silent admiration."

"I think," said Mrs. Bainbridge, "that we would
better move further back on the rocky summit where
doubtless, sheltered seats may be found, then we can
all enjoy this most wonderful of views at our leisure
and with some degree of comfort."

"Yes," said George Gaylord, "that will be ever so
much nicer."

"Stop a moment," said Fern Fenwick, who for
some moments had been examining the huge boulder
which sheltered them , "Have you noticed the curi
ous formation of this immense stone ? How many
hundreds of tons it may weigh, I hardly dare guess.
Geologically speaking, it is a 'stranger rock, ' not in
any way related to the rocks of this mountain, nor of
the mountains near here. It is a mammoth conglom
erate of such an interestingly curious compound and
of such flinty hardness. At the time of its forma
tion enormous pressure, coupled with the most in
tense heat, must have molded this strange mass to
gether. Coarse and fine gravel, smooth, round peb
bles, from the size of a pigeon's egg to that of a two-
hundred-pound boulder, are all jumbled together in
great confusion, and so firmly cemented in this im
mense globular mass of that peculiar, tenacious clay
of greenish gray color, which forms so large a part
of the drift formation, and which is so widely dis-

18 SOLARIS FARM.

tributed over the face of our globe — that strange,
unaccountable, isolated and unrelated formation,
which still remains an unsolved puzzle by our best
geologists. I wish you to observe the long sides of
this strange rock, especially where the exposed
sides of the pebbles have been worn down smooth
and even with the clay — how they are marked and
striated by shallow grooves, all running in one direc
tion as straight as though graven by rule. Is it pos
sible that any freak or flood of the glacial period
could have floated this huge rock to its resting place
on the very summit of this high mountain, almost
two thousand five hundred feet above the level of
the sea ? Oh ! tell me, ye listening mortals, or ye
winged winds that blow and pull my ribbons so !
whence came this stranger rock ? how formed ? and
how were its smooth, worn sides so systematically
engraved ? "

Fern Fenwick closed her series of queries with a
gradually rising pitch and inflection in the ringing
tones of her clear, musical voice. With figure erect,
eyes flashing, cheeks glowing and hands uplifted,
she seemed the personification of some priestess of
science. Fillmore Flagg and George Gaylord gazed
at her with the admiration of amazement. Mrs.
Bainbridge exclaimed :

"Why Fern Fenwick! How you do go on with
such nonsense, to be sure. No doubt these gentle
men, from this time forward, will look at you as
some scientific freak or geological professor of the
female persuasion, but recently escaped from the
walls of some famous college ! "

"Mrs. Bainbridge," said Fillmore Flagg, "of
course we understand that you were joking in what
you said just now : that you really admire the terse,

SOLARIS FARM. 19

clear, and wonderfully complete description of this
strange rock by Miss Penwick, quite as much as we
do." Turning to Fern Fenwick, he continued: "I
believe, Miss Fenwick, that I can throw some light
on the puzzling questions you have so poetically
propounded."

"Pray do tell us, Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick;
'I can't remember when I was so excited with inter
est on any subject before."

* 'Very well, " said Fillmore Flagg : ' 'That curiously
able and intellectual man, Mr. Ignatius Donnelly, in
his very interesting book called 'Ragnarok,' or The
Age of Fire and Gravel, puts forth a most remark
able theory regarding the drift formation, to the
truth of which this huge rock seems to bear witness.
The theory, briefly stated, is as follows : A great
many ages ago, when this globe of ours was still in
the period of cataclysms, rolling through space
around the sun, it came in contact with a portion
of the end of the tail of some enormous comet,
sweeping through the universe on its erratic course.
This great boulder is a sample of the component
parts of that firey tail, which smote the exposed
face of the earth so terribly with the drift deposit at
that time of dire disaster. The age of fire and grav
el, surely ! This curious clay, now of such flinty
hardness, was at one time the exceedingly fine dust
of the comet, cohering, collecting and embedding its
mixture of pebbles and gravel by the heat and pres
sure of the friction caused by its incalculably swift
passage through space for periods of uncounted
ages. Remember that the heat of all drift material
in the tail of the comet was greatly intensified by
the explosion of accompanying gases as they came
in contact with the atmosphere of our earth, All

20 SOLARIS FARM.

inflammable material on the face of the globe, which
was exposed at the time of its passage throu; li the
tail of the comet, was burned up : both earth a ;
were on fire! Fortunately our flying globe i ade a-
quick passage, thus it happened that large p<
of its unexposed surface wholly escaped this t
downpour of fire and gravel, and the absence i all
drift deposit on these places is logically acct imtecl
for. The atmosphere, so heated during that iwful
period, drank up the waters of the earth — then
the floods, as the waters fell again. Then f o '
the reaction period of extreme cold, snow ano ice —
the glacial period. This particular rock, while fol
lowing in the train of its parent comet, though lag
ging many thousands of miles behind, still, being so
very large, moved with accelerated speed tc wards
the comet's head, passing on its way countless mill
ions of smaller particles, whose cutting edges scored
these grooves. On entering the earth's atmosphere,
on account of its great size, this boulder, through
the law of attraction, quickly moved to the outer
most fringe of the comet's tail nearest the earth,
therefore was the first to alight on the top of this
mountain, far away from all smaller drift material.

' 'I hope, Miss Fenwick, that my brief and rather
speculative answers to your questions, reasoning as
I did, from Mr. Donnelly's point of view, may prove
at least in a measure satisfactory. "

< 'Thank you, Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick,
"your answers to my questions have all been very
ingenious : equally interesting and satisfactory, es
pecially as to how this mammoth conglomerate came
by its grooved lines and, later how it managed to
find a resting place on this mountain top, so far from
its kind. Mr. Donnelly's theory of accounting for

SOLARIS FARM. 21

the widely scattered deposits of the drift formation
is the most reasonable and logical of anything I have
ever read or heard. Doubtless, in course of time, it
may be proven the only true one. I see Mr. Gaylord
and Mrs. Bainbridge are becoming weary of all this
talk about rocks : let us move further back from the
point in search of more sheltered and comfortable
seats."

Accordingly they chose the central path and were
soon seated, enjoying the changed landscape from a
new point of view. However, Mr. Gaylord was not
yet satisfied and soon proposed a walk to the lake.
Mrs. Bainbridge was willing but Miss Fenwick had
walked enough for one day. A quiet enjoyment of
her lofty outlook was what she now most desired.

"Very well, Fern," said Mrs. Bainbridge, "Mr.
Gaylord will accompany me to the lake and we will
bring back for lunch some of those very large, deli
cious blueberries, which Mr. Gaylord assures me
are growing so abundantly around the shores of the
lake. You and Mr. Flagg shall remain here with
the lunch baskets."

This plan was agreed to, and very soon Mrs. Bain
bridge and her escort had disappeared on their way
to the lake. To Fillmore Flagg it seemed a long
time that Fern Fenwick had been sitting so quietly,
apparently absorbed in admiring the billowy miles
of landscape unrolled so far to the southward. In
reality, each was thinking of the other.

"Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick slowly, "will you
pardon me for asking you some very abrupt ques
tions, or what may seem such when considering our
brief acquaintence ?"

"Certainly," said Fillmore Flagg, "I hope my re
plies this time may prove as satisfactory as those I

22 SOLARIS FARM.

gave in regard to the rock. The pardon you crave
is granted in advance. Pray proceed."

"Tell me, Mr. Flagg, why are you so much inter-
erested in that advertisement which came to me so
unceremoniously yesterday ? And again, tell me why
you are so moved and determined to better the con
ditions of farm life ? I suppose you know that I have
wealth and leisure at my disposal ; it may prove that
I can be of great assistance to you. This is my ex
cuse for asking you for more details in regard to
your personal plans. "

With a heart filled with hope, Fillmore Flagg be
gan the recital of the story he had given to George
Gaylord on the terrace bench. With frequent glances
of encouragement from Fern Fenwick, his inspiration
and eloquence grew upon him. He gave a masterly
statement of the work, his preparation, hopes and
plans. Delighted beyond measure with the undis
guised appreciation and approval of this charming
woman, whose very destiny in the vista of a coming
future, seemed to him to be linked in some mysteri
ous manner with the success of his most cherished
ambitions, he cleverly enlarged and perfected the
original statement. As he concluded, Fern Fenwick
rose to her feet with hands extended, her face glow
ing with interested enthusiasm, saying :

"Mr. Flagg, I most heartily congratulate you on
the noble life-work you have planned and chosen, I
thank you again and again for the valuable facts you
have placed so confidingly in my possession, in re
gard to yourself and your work. Rest assured my
interest and assistance henceforth are at your com
mand. You will understand this more clearly when
I tell you that Bitterwood & Barnard are my attor
neys, and the advertisement which played such an

SOLARIS FARM. 23

important part in bringing us together here in these
mountains, was drawn up by them for my purposes.
That it should bring to me a person of your wonder
ful ability, integrity, skill and knowledge, is an al
most unhoped for piece of good fortune. You are
the one, of all others, most eminently fitted to help
me to a successful solution of my problem, which
you have so admirably stated. Hereafter I am your
debtor. I hope to prove a not unworthy employer,
or, to put it more pleasantly, an interested co-worker.
Will you do me the favor of considering yourself as
pledged from this moment to take up my work? Go
at once to my attorneys in Washington, ask them for
a letter of introduction to me, that you may get more
complete details of my plans and work, saying not a
word of our present acquaintance. I will furnish you
with a check on my Washington bankers, with which
to defray your expenses. To-morrow, in company
with Mrs. Bainbridge, I go to my summer home on
the Hudson near Newburgh, where letters will reach
me. This is the twenty-eighth of August; on the
fifth of September, at noon meet me in the station at
Newburgh. Come prepared to devote a week at the
least in discussing the scope and plan of our work,
devising ways and means etc. I very much desire
that you have an interview with my father, I know
he will be pleased with you. Do these arrangements
suit your convenience? Do they meet your entire
approval ?"

"I am greatly elated," said Fillmore Flagg, "at
this my golden opportunity of commencing what you
have so kindly named as 'our' work, under such aus
picious circumstances. I thank you, Miss Fenwick,
more than words can tell, for your confidence in my
integrity and ability, I will do my best to retain that

24 SOLARIS FARM.

confidence. I am ready to start for Washington to
morrow. I will follow your instructions, and will
report to you by letter from that city, and then meet
you at Newburgh at the appointed time."

As he finished his reply Fern Fenwick said : "Mr.
Flagg, I am very much pleased with your prompt
decision in favor of my arrangements. I see our
friends returning from the lake, will you help me to
spread the lunch?"

With keen appetites they enjoyed the lunch espe
cially the delicious blueberries which George Gay-
lord and Mrs Bainbridge had brought from the lake.
The hours passed quickly; the drive back to the
hotel was without mishap or incident : the entire
party, on separating, voted it a day of perfect pleas
ure, Fillmore Flagg and George Gay lord expressing
their thanks to the ladies for their kind invitation
which had given them such a delightful excursion.

Later, George Gaylord called at the room of his
chum for a few moments chat. "Come in," said Fill-
more Flagg, "I was just thinking of you. I have
made up my mind to go to Washington to-morrow for
the purpose of answering that advertisement. How
much longer do you propose to remain here?"

"Not more than two weeks," replied George Gay-
lord. "I understand Miss Fenwick and Mrs. Bain-
bridge are going away to-morrow. I am likely to
have a very quiet time, all by my lone self : I think I
must take to bowling for an hour or twro each day
just to keep up my exercise and kill time. I hope
you may be entirely successful in your interview
with Bitterwood & Barnard. Remember how much
I am interested in this matter, and your promise to
let me know the result. By the way, what a per
fectly delightful day we have had, thanks to that

SOLARIS FARM. 25

lucky gust of wind which tore your clipping from
my fingers and landed it at Miss Fenwick's dainty
feet. What a talented young lady she is, and so
handsome too. Her lecture on the mountain top
about that stone would have been a credit to any
one. I never saw her look such a picture of perfect
beauty before. She seemed wonderfully interested
in you, Fillmore, especially after your brilliant reply
to her series of apparently unanswerable questions.
I declare, the profoundness, the ingeniousness, and
•the boldness of your successful answers filled me
with amazement ! You fairly surpassed yourself ;
all the time looking your best, just like a hero. Yet
when you looked at Miss Fenwick you seemed just
at the point of falling down to worship her. I can't
blame you. What a glorious couple you two would
make ! If it were not for her immense wealth I be
lieve you could win her ; any one can see that you
have made a very favorable impression. Perhaps
you can win her as it is — I wish you all success, you
certainly deserve it. Mrs. Bainbridge tells me that
at the death of Miss Fenwick's father, some years
ago, she became sole heir to his vast fortune ; most
of it in very rich Alaska gold mines."

" Are you quite sure," said Fillmore Flagg, "that
her father is dead ?"

"Yes Fillmore, I am quite sure ; although it is just
possible that I may have misunderstood Mrs. Bain
bridge. In my hotel acquaintence with that lady I
discover that she is a very intelligent and accom
plished person of rare good sense. Splendid com
pany ; we seem to get on famously together, I shall
miss her very much I am sure. As usual, I am doing
all the talking : it is now your turn to say something. "

"I think I could," said Fillmore Flagg, "if my

26 SOLARIS FARM.

chatterbox friend, George Gaylord, would only give
me a chance. Miss Penwick I regard as the most
beautiful and cultured woman I have ever met. I do
admire her very much, but the possibility of ever
winning her for a wife is, at this time, too remote for
me to consider for a moment. I must now pack my
trunk and then see the hotel clerk about getting it to
the railway station. So good night, George, I will
see you again in the morning."

That night Fillmore Flagg could not sleep. The
beautiful image of Fern Fenwick was before him the
moment he closed his eyes. The events of the past
two days, with their crowding memories, kept racing
through his mind : he could not think calmly or con
nectedly. He was in a fever of expectancy regard
ing the meeting at Newburgh, and the prospect of
spending a whole week at Miss Fenwick's cottage on
the Hudson. Then. and there, no doubt, she would
tell him all about herself, her father, her particular
work, when and why she became interested in it etc.
But what about the father ? How could he have an
interview with her father, if Mrs. Bainbridge was
correct in saying that Mr. Fenwick had been dead
for several years ? It was a mystery he could not
solve. He did not doubt Fern Fenwick for a mo
ment and felt sure she would, at the proper time,
make everything plain. How gracious and winning
she had been to him ; she seemed to bid him to have
courage. In spite of her great wealth, and a hun
dred other obstacles that might exist, he was more
and more in love every hour. If proving himself
worthy of her confidence in every way would win
her love, surely then, he would win it. With this
determination fixed in his mind he fell asleep.

In her room that night, as Fern Fenwick brushed

SOLARIS FARM. 27

her hair and prepared herself for rest, she often
paused to ponder over her strange meeting with
Fillmore Flagg ; thinking what a fine, manly look
ing fellow he was, and how well he could talk ; how
thoroughly equipped he was to take up the question
of improving farm life, the lives of farmers and their
families — the question of all questions for her.
Surely, Mr. Flagg bore the stamp of destiny! He
was the man of all men to make her work a com
plete success. How fortunate she was to secure his
valuable services. How strange, that after a brief
acquaintance of only two days, she should have such
perfect confidence in a comparative sttranger. Yet,
she did not doubt his integrity ; she knew he was
loyalty itself; she intuitively felt that she could
trust him implicitly — he would never betray her in
terests under any circumstances. She knew from
his every look, tone and gesture that he admired
her intensely, devotedly. Her own feelings, she did
not care to analyze. With a sigh, more of pleasure
than weariness, she composed herself for the night
and was soon lost in sleep.

CHAPTER V.

FAIRY FERN COTTAGE.

ONE WEEK has passed since the events narrated in
the previous chapter. At Cornwall on the Hudson,
on a West Shore train speeding north, we find Fill-
more Flagg ; his mission at Washington successfully
accomplished, the letter of introduction from Bitter-
wood & Barnard secured. In another short hour he

28 SOLARIS FARM.

will be at Newburgh. Will the lovely face of Fern
Fenwick be the first to greet him ? As the moments
fly by, his heart beats faster. He feels the surging
tide of his all-absorbing love for this beautiful wo
man, thrilling and permeating his entire being. He
tries to be calm, to think what he ought to say that
would be fitting and appropriate ; he knows his eyes
are blazing and his cheeks glowing with an unwon
ted fire, still his thoughts refuse to flow into the
satisfying forms of speech he most desires to use at
the coming meeting, which seems to him to be the
marking of a great crisis in his life. Ah ! There is
the whistle sounding ! The speed of the train is
checked as it approaches the station. He steps on
to the platform while the train is still moving. He
beholds many upturned faces in the surging crowd
between him and the doorway of the ladies' waiting
room, but Miss Fenwick he cannot see. Will he ever
reach that room ? Has anything happened to her ?
A great fear contracts his heart, he fancies he fairly
staggers as he enters the door. In an instant he is
suffused with a great joy. By the window, awaiting
his approach, stands Fern Fenwick, the perfect
picture of cool, contented loveliness. She extends
her hand and greets him with a firm clasp of hearty
welcome, and a second edition of that dazzling smile,
so becoming to her, so bewitching to him.

"How do you do, Mr. Flagg? I believe your train
must be late. How well you are looking, in spite of
the heat and the dust ! We will have your baggage
secured as soon as possible and placed in the car
riage, then we will drive to the cottage in time for
lunch."

"Thank you Miss Fenwick, I am delighted to see
you looking so well. My journey from Washington

SOLARIS FARM. 29

has been a very pleasant one ; I have enjoyed it and
have not suffered from the heat."

The carriage now came up, they stepped in and
commenced the beautiful drive of one and one-half
miles to "Fairy Fern Cottage," which was charm
ingly located on the summit of these famously ter
raced hills. Hills that have been historic since the
revolutionary days of General Washington, when
their slopes were white with the tents of his soldiers.
As they approached the cottage, the artistic eye of
Fillmore Flagg noted with pleasure the broad ex
panse of spacious lawn, gently sloping down to the
road. Half -moon- shaped, it presented for his admi
ration five acres of smoothly shaven, velvety green.
For one-eighth of a mile, the entire width of the
lawn and cottage grounds, a low wall of ornamental
cut store separated the lawn from the road and
formed the straight line of the half-moon. From
the gates at either end of the wall a broad, beauti
fully kept driveway swept around the semicircle of
the lawn, passing just in front of the cottage at the
center of the deep bay of the half-moon. On each
side of the driveway the greensward was beautified
by alternating star and diamond-shaped plots of ger
aniums, roses, gladioluses, canna and nasturtions.
Sitting close to the outer edge of the drive, about
ten feet apart, commencing at the corners of the
porch on either side, were rows of potted palms ex
tending around the curve, one hundred and fifty feet
each way — the palms gradually growing smaller as
the distance from the cottage became greater. The
effect was beautifully unique and suggestively semi-
tropical. The cottage and lawn was embayed by a
crowning crescent of choice foliage and shade trees ;
the thin horns of the crescent terminated at the

30 SOLARIS FARM.

gateways in low gray stone towers. From these
points the horns gradually grew broader and the
shrubbery rose higher. First the rhododendrons
mixed with clumps of hollyhocks, next flowering
almonds, roses, spireas and syringas ; then came the
drooping long leaf sugar pines, with an artistic
mingling of slender limbed graceful silver birches :
farther back were the taller firs and spruces, inter
spersed with thick clumps of small copper beeches,
extending to and joining at the back of the cottage,
the dense forest of tall, straight bodied elms, oaks
and maples which partly hid and shaded the stables
and the kitchen portion of the cottage.

The cottage itself was built of gray stone; with
thick walls and large, low, deep seated windows. It
was two stories in height, with three square towers
rising twenty feet higher. The central tower was
larger, and gave space within its walls for one grand
room of magnificent proportions, thirty feet square
and with a fifteen foot ceiling. The general effect of
the cottage, lawn, and crescent background of foli
age and forest, was as novel as it was beautiful. As
the carriage entered the farther gateway, Fillmore
Flagg was surprised and delighted :

"How perfectly exquisite !" he exclaimed : "A real
gem ! A romantic scene from fairyland ! Rightly
named 'Fairy Fern Cottage !' It is a fitting home
for Fern Fenwick."

"Thank you, Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick as
they stepped from the carriage to the porch : * 'I ap
preciate your praise of my cottage home. I love it,
I am proud of it, I give you a hearty welcome to its
halls. May your memories of it prove always pleas
ant. Let us enter. During your stay you are to oc
cupy the front room on the second floor, the one un-

SOLARIS FARM. 31

der the right hand tower. I think you will find the
view from the windows very pleasing and attractive.
The luncheon bell will sound in just half an hour.*'
In the dining room Fillmore Flagg found Mrs.
Bainbridge who greeted him very cordially. She
sat at the left of Fern Fenwick, who was at the head
of the table. The table itself was oval shaped, very
large, seemingly of rich, solid mahogany ; the china
and silver were elegant and artistic. The center
piece was a large silver tray filled with a wonderful
collection of rare ferns. Around it a ring of cut
glass bouquet holders, filled with spikes of flaming
gladioluses, formed a most effective border.

"You are to sit here at my right, Mr. Flagg," said
Fern Fenwick.

As Fillmore Flagg took the proffered seat, he
thought her a most charming hostess, admirably fit
ted to preside over this exquisitely decorated table.
He looked in vain for her father ; finally concluding
that Mr. Fenwick must be a confirmed invalid, con
fined to his room. Luncheon over, Fern Fenwick in
vited Fillmore Flagg to her study to consider the
business of the work before them. Her study proved
to be the large square room in the central tower,
which was so generously lighted by its eight large
windows. The furniture was of carved oak ; the car
pet and hangings, rich and heavy, were of a pale
lilac tint, which gave an air of peaceful quiet and
harmony to the room. From the front window,
looking eastward, a long stretch of the beautiful
Hudson could be seen at one sweeping glance. In
the south east corner of the room stood Fern Fen-
wick's desk, a large one with a roll top. At the
right of the desk, on an easel against the wall, was
a very fine, life size crayon portrait of a noble look-

32 SOLARIS FARM.

ing man of sixty winters or more. The massive
forehead was both broad and high and very smooth.
The eyes were wide apart, large and expressive, the
full beard, thick and fine ; the hair, abundant and
wavy. Both hair and beard were evenly tinged with
gray. The body was large, erect and well propor
tioned — it fittingly matched the noble head. The
portrait impressed one as being life-like and full of
character. Close beside the easel was a large arm
chair, upholstered with stuffed leather, a grayish
brown. Lying across the arms of the chair was a
large, peculiarly shaped trumpet of aluminum, orna
mented with a heavy cord and tassel of gray silk.

"Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick, "this is my pri
vate workroom ; here I am undisturbed and not at
home to callers. This is my desk. Here you see
my father's portrait : this is his favorite chair. Will
you be seated in the smaller chair near it ? I will
sit in the chair at my desk. "

"Pardon me, Miss Fenwick," said Fillmore Flagg,
' 'Up to this time I had thought of you as living here
with your father : I now perceive, from the way you
speak of his portrait and of his favorite chair, that
he must be dead. Please correct me if I am wrong
in my conclusions."

"I will explain the situation in a very few words,"
said Fern Fenwick.

"In the eyes of the world I am an orphan, my
father and mother having both passed from this to
the land of spirit. The world, in its blind ignor
ance, calls them dead. To me, thanks to my medi-
umship, and to the mighty truth of spirit commun
ion, they are still conscious, living, loving parents.
Every day, here in this room, they come to me and
through the trumpet there, speak to me as naturally,

SOLARIS FARM. 33

as fluently and as lovingly as ever. I feel and real
ize their constant watchfulness and loving care. In
times of need their advice never fails, always prov
ing as wise as it is unerring. They never for a mo
ment allow me to realize that I am an orphan in any
sense of the word. The word Death has no terrors
for me : I realize that for them it means simply a
happy transition to a higher life, filled with broader
and brighter possibilities ; and, blessed truth ! that
they are permitted to come to me when I need them.
I sometimes shudder when I think what might have
happened to me if I had not been born and bred a
spiritualist and a medium. However, we will speak
of these things more at length later on. At this
time, under my father's guidance and with your
assistance, I am to cary out and complete his plans
for the improvement of farm life on lines quite in
harmony with your ideas. I know he approves of
you and of your work, and has confidence in your
integrity and ability. At the proper time he will
speak to you personally through the trumpet. Let
us now consider another matter pertinent at this
time.

1 'In order that you may thoroughly understand the
situation that surrounds and affects our work, it will
be necessary for me to tell you the story of my life,
?vnf) with it the story of the life of my father."

34 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER VI.

FENNIMORE FENWICK.

1 'ON A pioneer farm in northwestern Iowa, with a
broad expanse of beautiful prairie on every side, far
from town or village, lived my grandfather, George
Fenwick. On this farm in October, 1840, my father,
Fennimore Fenwick, was born. Of a family of nine
children, five boys and four girls, he was the fifth,
two of the brothers and two of the sisters being
older. Closely associated as a healthy, harmonious
family of children, they grew up surrounded by the
conditions of an isolated farm life, so general in the
widely scattered settlements of those early days,
with only now and then rare chances for a little
schooling of the most primitive character. How
ever, they shared with each other their joys and
sorrows, their plays and privations ; always forbear
ing and patient, kind and affectionate, light-hearted,
sympathetic and helpful, they did much to develop
that broad, loving, genial nature which made my
father kin to all mankind. So just and true! So
nobly unselfish ! A signal illustration of the great
blessing which Nature's beneficent law of compensa
tion brings to large families.

"Passing on to September, 1865, at the close of
the war of the rebellion, we find the large family, so
long and harmoniously united, now separated and
widely scattered. Grandfather and grandmother
Fenwick both died during the closing year of the
war. With the exception of my father, the brothers
and sisters were all married and settled on farms of
their own : some in Iowa, one in Missouri, two in

SOLARIS FARM. 35

Kansas, and two in Minnesota. The homestead was
divided between the two younger brothers. All of
the brothers served as soldiers, good and true, dur
ing the war ; the two younger only one year each.
My father, more fortunate than the others, by his
bravery and soldierly excellence won a commission,
and came home the captain of his company.

"From this point forward we will follow my fath
er's career as he makes a pathway in life for himself.

"From 1865 to 1871 he devoted his time and his
savings to hard study in the best of schools, finish
ing a master of his profession — a mining engineer
and expert in assaying and metallurgy. From 1871
to 1882 he was general manager of a wealthy mining
company in Colorado at a large salary, making a
name for himself as one of the most skillful and suc
cessful men in the profession. While in Colorado my
father was haunted by an intuitive feeling that the
gold-bearing quartz region of Alaska held a rich find
in store for him. In October, 1882, a very strong
corporation was organized in San Francisco, 'The
Alaska Mining Co.,' to open and operate their exten
sive mines in Alaska. The directors of the company
chose my father manager. They offered him an in
creased salary to go to Alaska to take entire charge
of the work. This position he accepted and retained
for five years. During that time he discovered a
very rich mine on a small, rocky island near the
coast. In partnership with his old friend, Mr. Dun-
bar, one of the San Francisco directors of the Alaska
Mining Co., my father, at the end of five years ser
vice for the company, had developed the mine on
the island into one of the best paying and most ex
tensive of that famously rich gold bearing quartz
region. This was the foundation and support of his

36 SOLARIS FARM.

vast fortune, which thereafter required his entire at
tention. At the death of Mr. Dunbar, which occurred
in 1890, his one- third interest in the mine passed to
his son, Dewitt C. Dunbar, a young man of great en
ergy and integrity, with an excellent business educa
tion. He impressed my father as one in every way
trustworthy and capable. At my father's request,
Dewitt C. Dunbar, accompanied by his young wife,
at once removed to Alaska. Under my father's tui
tion he began to prepare himself to take the active
management of the mine, which had been christened
'The Martina.'

"In 1882, while on his first visit to San Francisco,
my father met and loved Martina Morrison, my
mother — my beautiful mother. She was twenty-
seven, my father forty-two. They were perfectly
adapted to each other, and both equally charmed
and devoted. She possessed a fine mind, well cul
tured ; a handsome physique, charmingly graceful in
every movement; and, her crowning glory, an ex
ceedingly amiable disposition. Martina Morrison, by
those who knew her longest and best, was declared
to be the soul of honor. She was an excellent medi
um, an enthusiastic and devoted Spiritualist — one of
its purest and most eloquent exponents, highly es
teemed by all as an able and earnest worker in the
service of the two worlds. Fennimore Fenwick, my
father, soon became much interested in her wonder
ful mediumship, and later became convinced of the
absolute verity of the mighty truths of Spiritual
ism. He at once declared himself its willing and
outspoken advocate : in his enthusiasm of delight he
even hailed it as the coming religion of the world.

* 'Martina Morrison had such confidence in my
father's future mining success, that she readily

SOLARIS FARM. 37

yielded to his urgent request for a speedy marriage,
that she might accompany him on his first trip to
Alaska. And thus it was they sailed away on their
bridal tour, their destination that far off land of flash
ing glacier and unexplored forest, almost, if not
quite, beyond the borders of civilization. This long
voyage to an unknown country had no terrors for
them. They were all the world to each other. A
bright halo of hope and happiness spread a soft
glow of enchantment over ship and sail, sea and sky,
so vivid, so far reaching, that it even touched and
tinted the distant shores of that far off, rock bound
coast of Alaska. Smooth seas, lovely weather and
favoring winds speeded the voyagers : those halcyon
days flew swiftly by. Almost before they dreamed
it possible the vessel came to anchor in the port that
marked the end of the voyage. Safely landed, my
father reported at once at the office of The Alaska
Mining Company, only a few miles distant. There
he commenced his five years of management for the
Company, of which I have already spoken. There
my mother remained until December, 1884, when she
returned to San Francisco, to visit her friends. My
father followed her five months later.

CHAPTER VII.

AN ALASKA KINDERGARTEN.

"IN JUNE, 1885, I was born, and soon became a
very active member of the Fenwick family. I was
pronounced by all who saw me an offspring in every
way worthy of my noble father and my beautiful

38 SOLARIS FARM.

mother. When I was two months old, my parents
returned to Alaska, taking me with them. There I
remained until I was seven years old — seven years
in that forbidding clime, so near the Arctic Circle.
Isolated from other children, yet how happy and
contented I was. Those years recall a troop of
joyous memories, with not a bitter one to mar the
group. My beloved parents were my only com
panions, playmates, teachers and confidants. I was
papa's own girl. He was very proud of me and
wished me to be with him as much as possible. He
never wearied in the endless task of answering my
questions, always so skillfully directing them by
suggestions, that in my receptive mind there was
soon unfolded a clear conception of the outlines of
the different branches of all useful knowledge. When
I was four years of age I knew the alphabet perfectly
and could spell and construct a great number of
words with my lettered blocks, and then copy them
on my slate. When I was five years old, thanks to
my mother's patient teaching, I could read fairly
well. My father's ingenious methods soon made me
familiar wTith the key-words of geology, chemistry,
(including the names of minerals, metals and gases)
botany, history, geography, physics and astronomy.
I was unconsciously taught to associate these words
or names with the groups, or families, to which they
belong. I wrould spend hours with my father in the
most delightful game of separating and classifying
a miscellaneous heap of different colored blocks,
bearing the names of minerals, metals and gases
and the key-words of the studies I have just men
tioned. To illustrate : The astronomy blocks were
blue with the names in white letters ; the geology
blocks w re a deep reddish brown, with names in

SOLARIS FARM. 39

gray ; chemistry, red, lettered in black ; botany,
green, lettered in yellow ; geography, gray, lettered
in blue ; history, black, lettered in red ; physics, a
deep orange yellow, lettered in white ; mathematics
WHS represented in a small way by the cipher and
nine digits, lettered in black upon ten plain un-
painted blocks, giving in their forms that number of
tlio principal geometrical figures, to which was added
Oj shallow box with a broad lid, perforated by ten
holes, corresponding to the blocks in number, size
and shape, but large enough for the blocks to easily
pass through into the box.

' :In these groupings my childish interest and de
light was intensified by my father's personification
of the different families, such as : ' Mr. Astronomy
Blue,' 'Mrs. Geology Brown,' 'Mr. Chemistry Red,'
etc. For instance, the wonderful stories he told to
me of the minerals, mecals and gases — the sons and
daughters of Mr. Chemistry Red, as he termed them
— describing their loves and hates, the great variety
of pranks they played, the queer combinations they
entered into, the good and the bad work they per
formed, etc. These to me were fairy stories of the
most charming kind, while at the same time they
gave me a correct idea of the powers and properties
of these unfamiliar things and served to identify
them more closely as members of the chemistry
family. My mother was a natural teacher, very
proficient in botany, and in history, with its flower
and fruitage of classic prose and inspiring poetry.
She entered into my father's 'block-signal-system' of
education with an enthusiasm as zealous and childish
as my own, therefore her contributions to the rapidly
increasing store of blocks were large and exceedingly
interesting. Her stories regarding the numerous

40 SOLARIS FARM.

members of the botany and history families proved
equally profitable and charming; those about plants
and trees especially so. These stories and plays of
science grouping, always associated with such pleas
ant emotions of my childish heart, became perma
nently fixed and dominant in my mental growth,
forming separate brain structures around which the
details of the accumulated knowledge of future years
could easily and naturally classify and crystallize.

"Thus swiftly passed those happy years of my
early girlhood. So constantly was I associated with
my dear father and mother that schools I did not
need. In my seventh year, under their supervision, I
commenced a systematic course of scientific reading
which I kept up until after I graduated from college.
I commenced with the Science Primer Series, read
ing aloud to my parents one half hour each morning
and evening, conversing and commenting on the dif
ferent topics as we went along. This proved to be
a continuation of the game of blocks : just as inter
esting, equally entertaining ; all about the same fa
miliar families I enjoyed it so much and never
once dreamed I was accomplishing a great deal of
good hard study. To me it was play ; play that gave
me more pleasure than any of my childish sports. I
soon began to ask for an extension of the half hour
lessons to an hour each; when my request was
granted my cup of pleasure was full, my joy com
plete. With each succeeding week my interest in all
my studies continued to grow. Yet my health re
mained perfect : my physical kept an even pace with
my mental growth, largely owing, no doubt, to the
much enjoyed hours of good romping exercise and
the dancing and singing which followed my reading
Lessons.

SOLARIS FARM. 11

"You must pardon me, Mr. Klagg, if I should tire
you with such a detailed account of rny child life;
my excuse must be, the valuable hints it may offer
when we come to consider a school system for the
children of our model co-operative farm."

"I arn profoundly interested," said Kill more Flagg.
"The very wonderful result flowing from tin; wise,
methods conceived by your pan-tils and carried out
by them so devotedly, fills my mind with admiration
and offers a flood of suggestions as to the possibili
ties of what; may be, accomplished by a properly con
ducted, well equipped school on a. co operative farm.
But you must not allow me to interrupt — please pro
ceed with your very interesting story."

CHAPTER VIII.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE "K A IKIES."

FERN FENWICK rose from her seat saying: "As
it is near sunset, Mr. Flagg, 1 have something to
show you in the way of a surprise, which I wish you
to see before it becomes too dark : after having seen
it you will better understand why this house was
named 'Fairy Kern Cottage.' Therefore I propose
that we now adjourn to the cool shade of the grounds
at the rear of the cottage, postponing the recital of
the, remainder of my story until this evening."

"I shall bo delighted to follow you," said Killmore
Flagg. "You have excited my curiosity ; I am just,
in the mood to learn all I can about this lovely cot
tage and its beautiful surroundings."

As they reached the shady lawn, so cool and sweet

42 SOLARIS FARM.

from its recent sprinkling, Fillmore Flagg observed
that a wide, straight avenue, shaded by towering
oaks and widely branching elms, led from the rear
porch of the cottage to the broad front of the roomy
stone stables, some two hundred and fifty feet dis
tant. In the center of this avenue, with a finely
graveled carriage drive on either side, rose a long
line of huge stone arches, ten in number. These im
posing structures of solid masonry Were full thirty
feet high, spreading to a width of thirty feet at the
base. The two center arches were each twenty feet
thick; the others, ten feet each. The open space
between the arches was uniformly ten feet ; the open
circle under each arch was twenty feet in diameter.
The vista formed by the spaces and arches together,
was over two hundred feet in length. From the far
ther arch to the front of the stables lay thirty feet
of smooth, clean gravel which covered, at this point,
the full width of the avenue, seventy -five feet, form
ing the open court, around which was built the sta
bles and the two tastefully designed stone buildings
on either side — one, beautifully fitted up for the resi
dence of the superintendent, the other containing the
heating and pumping apparatus and the electric gen
erator. The two wide center arches supported the
huge metal tank which held the ample water supply
of both cottage and outbuildings. Evidently, they
were admirably adapted to that particular purpose.
The rough stone work of the outside of all the arches
was artistically covered and beautified by a luxuri
ant growth of intermingled ivy and cinnamon vine,
which gave a still deeper shade to the interior. To
the beholder, the exterior effect of the vines on the
long line of arches was as beautifully romantic as if
it really were one of those old Abbeys in picturesque

SOLARIS FARM. 43

ruii., so charmingly described by Sir Walter Scott.
Deep grooves in the stone work, with light iron
frames fastened near the outer edges of the arches,
gave support during the cold weather to a roof of
double glass, which covered all the open spaces be
tween the arches, converting the whole into one vast
greenhouse, through which passed the system of
heating pipes from the furnace room to the cottage,
thus providing a roomy winter home for an army of
tropical plants and shrubs and at the same time pro
tecting the water supply from the ill effects of all
irost. A screen of interlacing vines, in place of the
glass roof, now served to make the shade of the
archway almost complete.

Having sufficiently examined the exterior and be
coming to some extent familliar with the general
plan and purpose of these unique arches, Fillmore
Flagg and Fern Fenwick returned to the covered
entrance from the kitchen porch. Here, as they
were standing a few feet above the ground, they had
an unobstructed view of the interior of the archway.
Through the center, where the lower disc of the
open circles touched the ground, ran a deep bed of
coarse gravel, covered with a thick layer of smooth
round pebbles, forming a perfectly drained pathway
about three feet in width which extended uniformly
from one end of the archway to the other. Conform
ing to the contour of the arches, rising and receding
in unison, this pathway was bordered on either side
by what appeared to be a continuous terrace of three
stone benches, each one foot high and of the same
width. These benches really were very heavy square
terra cotta pipes, ingeniously cemented together with
telescopic joints, and having thick, grooved covers
which formed the protecting conduits for the wires

44 SOLARIS FARM.

1 T

of the lighting system and the pipes of the irriga
ting and heating apparatus.

Artistically arranged on these benches, in pots
that were beautifully modeled, colored and glazed,
was a wonderful collection of choice ferns, embrac
ing all of the known varieties in prodigal profusion.
The pots were so arranged that the smaller varieties
occupied the lower benches, with the larger ones in
gradually increasing sizes on the higher benches
farther back. Viewed from either end of the arch
way they formed two matchless banks of the rarest
verdure and the loveliest foliage the world ever saw.
Everywhere the eye was delighted by great masses
of drooping fronds of delicate green, like rare lace in
fineness — outrivaling in beauty the plumes of the
famous birds of paradise.

"This is simply superb!" exclaimed Fillmore Flagg.
"I never saw anything one half so lovely ! Shall we
walk through now?"

"Wait a moment, Mr. Flagg," said Fern Fenwick.
"The twilight shadows are so deep you have, as yet,
caught only a glimpse of the rare beauty of my lovely
ferns." Stepping quickly to the right side of the
first arch, she pressed a button and lo ! those won
derful banks of ferns, and all the space of the arch
way, was flooded with a glory of soft, clear light. A
thousand tiny bulbs, in a lovely variety of flower and
fern leaf patterns, gleamed and glowed from beneath
the ferny banks or hung pendant, rainbow like, from
the roof of this rock ribbed archway.

Held spellbound for some moments by his surprise,
admiration and delight, Fillmore Flagg murmured
softly, almost in a whisper : ' 'Can anything surpass
this vision of perfect beauty ? "

"Yes," said Fern Fenwick, radiant and smiling,

SOLARIS FARM. 45

"I think it can be surpassed, but we must allow the
enchantress to use her magic once more, by giving
my darling ferns their bath of beauty. Then you
shall see them in their diamond robes."

Saying this, she pressed another button. A thous
and tiny pipes, concealed in the ribs of the stone
roof, gave forth a shower of fine spray, filling the
long fernery with a hazy mist of cobweb fineness.
Very soon millions of globules of moisture gathered
on leaf, stock, frond, plume and tiny tip of every
leaflet, reflecting each ray of light with diamond- like
brilliancy. Pressing another button to shut off the
spray, Fern Fenwick said:

"Now, Mr. Flagg, my ferns have donned their
royal robes and are ready for your tour of admiring
inspection. I assure you they are worthy of it. As
a choice collection of ferns in such perfect condition,
its equal cannot be found in all the wide world ! As
a collector I am an enthusiast ; for many months I
have travelled far and wide in my efforts to add new
specimens of rare beauty to the original collection.
You may guess how much I prize it when I tell you
that money could not buy it."

"You are surely a most wonderful enchantress," re
plied Fillmore Flagg. ' 'I feel that under the potent
spell of your magical wand, I have entered the inner
mysteries of some glorious temple of ferns, in a
world of enchantment ! I am so fascinated and daz
zled by this marvellous display of brilliancy and
bsauty, that I am moved to pay homage to you, Miss
Fenwick, as a fitting tribute of loyal devotion to
Fern, the Fairy Queen of this fair temple."

As he finished his gallant speech, the deep tones
of emotion vibrating in the full rich voice of Fillmore
Flagg, and the look of intense admiration which

46 SOLARIS FARM.

shone so eloquently from his eyes, brought a flush
of color to the fair face of Fern Fenwick and warned
her that it was time to be moving. Skillfully keep
ing up the personification, she quickly said :

' 'Mr. Flagg, I am delighted on behalf of the fairies
to express thanks for the glowing tribute to their
Queen which you have so beautifully voiced. Let
us now walk through to the end of the fernery and
return. As we pass along I will point out my favor
ite plants."

Only a few steps had been taken when Fillmore
Flagg paused, listening and looking about him in all
directions, with a very puzzled expression. A de
lightfully cool breeze was fanning their faces : this
breeze was laden with some strangely sweet perfume
both soothing and stimulating to the senses. The
air all about them seemed to vibrate with the distant
melody of some angelic music, now sinking, now
swelling in perfect harmony ; so soft, so clear, so
bright, so inspiring in its wealth of tone and joyous
movement.

"Ah ! Miss Fenwick," said Fillmore Flagg, "my
senses are all entranced ! Your wonderful fairies in
this grotto of magic are at this moment thrilling my
being with sensations of the most intense delight!
How can the Fairy Queen explain ? What has she
been doing with her magical wand to produce such
delicious perfume ; such entrancing music ?"

Fern's merry laugh rang out musically clear, and
her eyes sparkled roguishly as she replied: "I as
sure you Mr. Flagg, that in this instance the fairies
are not responsible. The explanation is quite sim
ple but rather long. Therefore let us move forward
while I give you the details : As we were stepping
down on this graveled walk, I turned the switch and

SOLARIS FARM. 47

started the ventilating fans, at the same time connec
ting the electric current with a series of melophones
located near the top of the arches. Along the ven
tilating tubes, in a series of small compartments, are
sponges saturated with different kinds of perfume.
These sponges can be exposed to the air current or
withdrawn at will, yielding a single perfume or a
blending of as many kinds as one may wish. The
wonderful variety of these choice blendings, which
can be so easily produced, affords a constant succes
sion of sweet surprises. The melophones which you
hear, represent the highest achievement of art in the
production of automatic musical instruments. This
set is the most complete and the most expensive one
in existence. In construction and final completion
they cost the inventor and maker three years of con
stant thought and labor. The result is truly mar
vellous. The perfection of harmony and purity of
tone are convincing testimonials of their excellence.
In operation these instruments are placed in a very
large double tube made from a peculiar kind of me
tallic alloy recently discovered, which affords the
most perfect conditions for the conservation and con
ductivity of all musical vibrations. ' They are capa
ble of producing an almost endless variety of choice
music. The selection which we hear at this time, is
one which I have re-named 'The Carol of the Perns. '
Pardon me, Mr. Plagg, if in my enthusiasm over the
beauties of what you have so poetically termed my
'magical temple of ferns,' some of my statements
should sound like boasting; I assure you they are
not so intended. I trust that now I have cleared up
the mystery to your perfect satisfaction. "

"Charmingly," said Pillmore Flagg, "Nevertheless
my fairyland illusions still abide with me ; I confess

48 SOLARIS FARM.

I am still under the spell of the great happiness they
have given to.me — I shall never forget it. The truth
in this case proves even stranger than fiction; I quite
agree with you that in all the wide world there is
nothing like this ! It seems to me that those extra
ordinary melophones yield the finest music I have
ever heard. In sweetness and purity of tone, soft
ness and wealth of harmony, which is pervaded by
some electric quality of inspiration, so stirring, so
thrilling that every nerve and every cell in the body
responds. They stand unrivaled as the very acme
of musical art. I now understand why your lovely
home here should be named 'Fairy Fern Cottage. ' I
fully appreciate the significance of the title. This
royal tample of ferns makes the name most fittingly
appropriate, and easily ranks this cottage as the
eighth wonder of the world ! The fame of its rare
beauty should be known in every land. You ought
to be very proud of it. I assure you, Miss Fenwick,
that you are abundantly justified in praising it en
thusiastically at all times, without fear of being con
sidered egotistical. But tell me, if I may be permit
ted to ask, who was the wonderful genius who first
conceived and planned the building of this imposing
line of arches? So useful, so ornamental, so unique,
yet so perfectly adapted as a summer and a winter
home for your ferns and flowers and, withal, offering
such a perfect title to your unrivaled cottage home. "
''Thank you, Mr. Flagg, for that question. In my
reply I am eager to pay a deserved tribute to the
dearest and noblest of men — my father. Inspired by
his love for me, his brilliant mind conceived the en
tire plan and purpose of this curiously novel struct
ure. » He succeeded in completing it and also in fil
ing it with the original collection of ferns, without

SOLARIS FARM. 49

my knowledge. On the morning of my fifteenth
birthday, he brought me here to bestow upon me
this priceless gift. The surprise was a perfect one.
When he made me understand that he gave with it a
deed to the cottage and grounds, the surprise became
so intense that it fairly took my breath away. I was
so overjoyed that by turns I laughed, and cried, and
hugged papa, until I came very near to having a
genuine fit of hysteria ! At that time we changed
the name of the house to Fairy Fern Cottage. This
is why I am so proud and so fond of my cottage
home. This is why I appreciate your praise of it so
much — why I am so thankful for it. I feel sure that
you will now appreciate my sincerity when I repeat
that money could not buy it !"

CHAPTER IX.

THE PROBLEM VS. A GOOD MAN WHO IS AS RICH
AS HE IS NOBLE.

AFTER supper Fern Fenwick and Fillmore Flagg
returned to the tower room for the continuation of
the story. 'She began by saying :

"Let us return to my father's mining operations
in Alaska. In 1892, Dewitt C. Dunbar assumed the
active management of the Martina mine. A large
proportion of my father's surplus capital from the
mine had been invested, through trusty agents, in
the cities of San Francisco, Saint Paul, Chicago,
Washington and New York. We at once planned a
tour of travel that would give him the opportunity
t "> personally inspect these investments, and at the

50 SOLARIS FARM.

same time give me a chance to see the world, and to
mingle in society, or so much of it as a continuous
hotel life might offer.

For my mother and myself this delightful tour
was one long holiday. We enjoyed it so much. To
me especially, it proved exceedingly profitable ; geo
graphically speaking, my ideas of the largeness of
the world, and the vast number of its people, were
wonderfully expanded. In December, 1893, father
completed his investments by the purchase of a win
ter home in the city of Washington, and this summer
home here. This cottage was built in the year 1900.

During the summer of 1894 we visitod the brothers
and sisters of my father, who were at that time liv
ing with their families on farms in Iowa, Minnesota,
Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. As was generally
the rule, with a large class of farmers in those states
at that time, we found them, with but few excep
tions, poor, in debt, and very much discouraged by
the menacing outlook for the future. Farm interests
everywhere were in a desperate condition. A suc
cession of twenty years of falling prices for all farm
products, accompanied by frequent calamities, such
as hail storms, hurricanes, hot, blighting winds,
drouth and armies of grasshoppers, had so multi
plied and magnified the farm debts, and so reduced
the value of farm, stock, and product, that even the
interest on the indebtedness could no longer be kept
up ; ruin and beggary threatened the entire commu
nity of farmers. Under the severe pressure of these
conditions, great numbers of the more unfortunate
abandoned their farms in despair and sought employ
ment elsewhere, mostly in manufacturing centres
and the large eastern cities. Much of the money and
wealth of the land had flown to those points, thither

SOLARIS FARM. 51

logically, they followed, to enter the ranks of that
vast army of competitors for the crumbs that might
fall from the table of an already glutted labor mart ;
to learn by bitter experience now cruelly the system
of competition in all kinds of business can grind the
helpless poor ; to learn, through years of suffering,
the real meaning of competition, that so long as it
rules over commercial and industrial systems, the
rich must grow richer and fewer in number, while
the poor must grow poorer, and more and more
numerous ; to apprehend, slowly and painfully, that
by coming from farm to city they had still farther
congested the already overstocked labor market,
thereby adding fierceness to the competition, insur
ing an increase in the purchasing power of the dol
lars of those who held the labor market, while they
correspondingly decreased the possibilities for earn
ing the dollars they must have in order to live ; to
perceive dimly in their desperation, that congestion
of the labor market speedily affected all markets ;
that an overstocked labor market always meant a
decrease of wages, which in turn, caused a corres
ponding shrinkage in the number of purchasers for
all salable goods in the general market, followed by
increased panic and stringency in the money market;
which speedily rolled up another disaster, sweeping
in turn, additional thousands into the ranks of the
unemployed ; demonstrating, finally, that a repetition
of these evils is inevitable ; that competition in its
last analysis, means the complete destruction of all
business.

"As my father came to understand the full sig
nificance of this deplorable situation, involving and
distressing his own brothers and sisters, his noble
nature was grieved and shocked. He made haste to

& SOLARIS FA&M.

place his people in a condition of financial indepen
dence. How happy and grateful they were ! And
my father rejoiced with us that he was able to offer
such timely assistance. He then announced to us
his determination to devote the remainder of his life,
and so much of his fortune as might be necessary,
to the solution of the problem of how best to over
come the blighting evils of the competitive system.
After much thought, long research and hard study,
he decided to commence with the land as the neces
sary basis of all progress ; with the farm as the ra
tional progressive unit ; with improved farm methods
on co-operative lines, as the lever by which to re
store the control of the land to the farmers, and to
lift them and their sons and daughters from the class
of ignorant dependents, to a class of cultured inde
pendents, which should be well worthy of serving as
a model in the race of progress, for all the other
classes. In his efforts to modify, correct, and re
form social and business methods, he proposed to
usa the strong and kindly arms of Co-operation in
fighting the evils of Competition, or its representa
tive, the pitiless competitive system. He reasoned
that all forms of government are but the result of
co-operative effort. Both experience and observa
tion had taught him that the measure of excellence
of any government is the measure of its perfection
in co-operation. Therefore it logically follows, that
the more perfect the co-operation achieved by the
administration of any form of government, the
greater the degree of justice and equality attained
in the distribution of benefits to all of the governed. "

SOLARIS FARM. 53

CHAPTER X.

THE REAPING OF THE DEATH ANGEL.

"TOWARDS the close of the summer of 1895, my
father placed me in the preparatory department of
Vassar College, where I made rapid progress. I be
gan to appreciate the superior wisdom of the meth
ods of teaching which my parents had so systematic
ally carried out for my improvement. Thanks to
their efforts, I held the key to all of the sciences,
history and literature, prose and poetry ! All of
their principal words or terms with their definitions,
were familiar friends to me ; while all new facts re
garding their various subdivisions, auxiliaries, etc.,
and the relations existing between them as such,
were matters of absorbing interest to me ; so much
so, that I soon became master of the subject I was
studying, very often proving a puzzling surprise to
my teachers. At the age of twelve I entered the
regular course and graduated from college just as I
was entering my eighteenth year, being by four
years the youngest member of a graduating class of
one hundred girls.

"Some months after my fourteenth birthday, my
darling mother was taken from me in the mortal
form, very suddenly and most unexpectedly. My
father was away from home on a long trip to Alaska.
I was at Vassar. My mother was with, a congenial
party of friends at a favorite seaside resort. One
day while bathing, one lady of the party swam too
far out, was taken with a cramp and shrieked for
help. My mother, who was nearest, being an excel
lent swimmer, courageously went to her assistance.
Unfortunately, the tide was running full and strong

54 SOLARIS FARM,

and was against my mother in her heroic struggle to
save her friend. Alas ! before aid could reach them
both sank beneath the waves and were lost. My no
ble mother had generously sacrificed her earthly ex
istence in her brave effort to save the life of another!
This was my first experience of the grief and deso
lation that follows the reaping of the Death Angel.
In my youth, my half-dazed condition, I could neither
realize nor understand what later became so plain to
me ; that to die is to live again. That death, so-
called, is but the change from one form of life to
another, which is still higher in the scale of prog
ress. Nor could I then realize, that for the purpose
of bringing to me a consciousness of the possibilities
of my spiritual being ; under the ministrations of the
angel of compensation, out of the very depths of the
gulf of bereavement and sadness through which I
was passing, there was coming to me the precious
gift of a priceless mediumship, the marvelous key !
the all-potent 'open sesame' with which to unlock
the gates between the two worlds and reunite the
separated loved ones on either side.

' 'At that time Mrs. Bainbridge, then but recently
widowed, was in charge of the old home here. She
was an excellent medium who had often proved her
self worthy of my mother's entire confidence. Act
ing under the guidance of my arisen mother, she at
once, without hesitation, took charge of all business
arrangements, especially those of preparing for the
cremation of my mother's body, in accordance with
her often expressed wish. She telegraphed the sad
news to my father in Alaska, asking for instructions.
He replied at once that the body must be cremated,
as my mother had directed in her will. He would
return as soon as possible, but at the best he could

SOLARIS FARM. 55

not hope to arrive in less than two months. In. the
meantime, Mrs. Bainbridge was authorized to take
entire charge of 'Fern,' and of his business affairs
that needed attention, until he came.

"I came home from college, sorely grieved and
shocked at the awful suddenness of my mother's
transition, but through the mediumship of Mrs.
Bainbridge, my mother, having her in a deep trance,
was soon able to comfort me ; to make me realize
that she was not dead, but still near me with all a
mother's love and tender care. Frojm time to time
she directed Mrs. Bainbridge how to manage the
pressing business that came up. She told me that
she had long known that I was endowed with won
derful mediumistic power, which must now be fully
developed for her sake, as a necessary and natural
channel of communication so desirable to her, which
she should prize very highly. Also as a source of
comfort for myself and my father, especially as a
joyful surprise for him when he came home. There
fore it was decided between us that I was to sit one
hour each day with Mrs. Bainbridge for develop
ment. My mother seemed to feel sure that I would
make an excellent trumpet medium, and encouraged
me by predicting my speedy development as such.
Strangely enough, so it proved. My progress was
rapid. In two weeks time my mother could speak to
me through the trumpet without difficulty and much
to my delight. I began to appreciate the great value
of my wonderful gift and to understand what it
meant. Our dear family circle, which in my despair
I had thought broken forever, was now reunited.
Father, mother, daughter ! just us three as of yore.
And — the wonder of it — I, the youngest, the weakest
and the least wise of the trio, was the instrument !

56 SOLARIS FARM.

When I thought of the possibilities, of the joy and
consolation it would bring to my father and mother,
my heart swelled with gratitude and thankfulness
that this mighty power had come to me. The power
to destroy the dread of death ; to demonstrate the
continuity of life ; to prove that the binding love of
family ties, kindred, and cherished friends still shone
with untarnished lustre beyond the shadows of the
silent grave. How beautiful, how wonderful, how
glorious it was ! And with this power came the
solemn charge that I was to cherish it with care and
keep it pure and holy. Yes, I resolved that I would
do this conscientiously. It should be my highest
ambition to ever use my mediumship with my best
and most unselfish aspirations, to keep it apart from
the grosser things of life, to dedicate it to good and
to good alone. And thus it was that my medium-
ship continued to develop and grow in perfection.
My mother could talk with me as often as she wished
and as long at each sitting as she desired. I was no
longer alone or despondent, my darling mother still
could be, and was roally, my mentor, friend, parent,
teacher and spiritual guide. I forgot to mourn or to
feel lonely, though I longed for my father's home
coming that we might share this new found joy. So
interested was I and so occupied, that the two months
quickly passed and my dear father reached his home
in safety. I had arranged for a quiet evening with
him alone. When my mother, through the trumpet,
joined in the conversation and welcomed him with
loving words of endearment, so familiar in the greet
ings of other days, he was almost overcome by the
flood of ecstatic emotions that moved and thrilled
him as he began to appreciate the significance of
such a miraculous surprise. His heart was glowing

SOLARIS FARM. 57

and his entire being permeated with this great wave
of happiness. His face was radiant with joy and
beamed with fatherly affection and pride as he
pressed me to his heart again and again, thanking
me for my thoughtful spiritual work in the develop
ment of my wonderful gift, which, for his consola
tion, I had striven so unselfishly, so ardently and
so earnestly to attain, while facing alone the one
great crisis of my young life. Still holding me in
his arms, he looked into my eyes long and fondly, al
most adoringly, as he said : 'With such a daughter,
whose loving heart and purity of soul has won for
her the marvellous power to reunite our broken
family circle, I am indeed the most fortunate of all
men.' Then in a moment I perceived that I was no
longer a child, I was a woman ; that henceforth my
father would think of me as a woman — still his lov
ing daughter — but also his equal, his confidant, his
trusted friend, his adviser in times of need, his ora
cle, his medium of communication with the loved
ones who dwelt in the world of spirit. How good
and beautiful was life in the light of this new vista
of possibilities and responsibilities for me ! For the
moment I seemed to be transported to some grand
spiritual height, where as a responsive spiritual
unit, I felt the throbbing of the limitless sea of envi
ronmental life surrounding me like a golden mist, on
every hand. Every pulsation proclaimed my immor
tality as a part of that boundless sea ; boundless,
fathomless, unthinkably shoreless ! of life, all-pro
ducing, all-containing! My soul no longer questioned.
It was filled with a peace and joy that passeth the
power of words to describe.

"Thus inspired and encouraged for the future, I
was ready and eager to take up again the active du-

58 SOLARIS FARM.

ties of life. In resuming my collegiate studies, it
was agreed between my father and mother and my
self, that I should come home from Vassar every
Friday evening, returning by the early train Mon
day morning, the intervening time to be sacredly de
voted to our trumpet family circles. Oh, Mr. Flagg!
How happy we were then ! For the next three years
nothing was allowed to interfere with these delight
ful reunions, whose memories are associated with so
many incidents that bound us three so closely with
the silver cords of pure affection.

"After leaving college, I accompanied my father
in all of his journey ings after new data in economics
and agriculture. For this purpose we spent the
winter of 1902-3, travelling in France, Italy, Ger
many and England, returning to America in April,
1903.

CHAPTER XI.

THE MARTINA MINE.

1 ' EARLY IN June of the same year, Dewitt C. Dun-
bar discovered a new lead in the Martina mine which
proved to be of such marvelous size and richness,
that my father's personal inspection was demanded
at the earliest possible moment, to decide on the best
methods of pushing forward the new work, and also
to determine what part of the old work should be
continued. The numerous letters and telegrams
from Mr. Dunbar, all urging the utmost haste on my
father's part, gave him but little time to consider
the results of such a long journey, or to make the

SOLARIS FARM. 59

proper preparations for it. It was evident that Mr.
Dunbar must be in a state of intense excitement. In
order to catch the next steamer from San Francisco,
father left a number of important items of business
for me to transact. I wished very much to go with
him but all the circumstances seemed to conspire
against me. Father promised to return at the ear
liest possible moment, meanwhile he was to send me
a dispatch announcing his safe arrival in Alaska.
By the end of July, messages, and later, letters
began to reach me announcing the wonderful output
of gold from the new lead. So rich was the ore that
for a time it was thought best to abandon all work
in the old mine. I could see very plainly from his
letters that the fever of Mr. Dunbar's excitement
and enthusiasm had also claimed my father as a vic
tim. I then foresaw that his stay in Alaska would
be prolonged far beyond my expectations or his own.
I began to feel very uneasy and to wish most fer
vently that I had insisted on going with him. I re
solved in future to keep him company wherever he
journeyed. Meanwhile the yield of gold from the
new lead continued to increase. The value of the
Martina rose like magic ; offers to purchase at fabu
lous prices came pouring in. Mr. Dunbar would not
accept, and decided, then and there, to remain an
other ten years as manager and resident superintend
ent of the mine. That settled the question. After
that, my father announced that the mine was not for
sale at any price. In writing to me concerning the
matter, he says :

< " My Dear Fern : * * * I at that time decided
that my interest in the mine which I had named for
your mother, and which had proven the luckiest and
richest in Alaska, should pass to you as it came to

60 SOLARIS FARM.

me, entirely unincumbered. So rest assured, my
daughter, so long as Dewitt C. Dunbar is able and
willing to manage the mine, both my interests and
yours are in safe hands ; in skill, honesty and ability
he is one of the grandest men I have ever known ; he
is a treasure. You can trust him implicitly ! '

''As I had anticipated, it was December before my
father could leave Alaska. In a letter dated Dec. 5,
to which I shall again refer, he says :

"'I have planned to leave here on a steamer that
sails on the tenth of this month. I fear the voyage
may prove a rough one. I have a foolish dread of
it, which is quite unusual for me. I am oppressed
by an uneasy feeling which I strive in vain to shake
off. However, I have taken good care to make such
arrangements with Mr. Dunbar as will cover all pos
sible contingencies. This is to be my last trip. '

' ' On the twelfth of December I received a message
from Mr. Dunbar, stating that Fennimore Fenwick
had sailed on the tenth as he had planned ; that he
was well and strong, and would wire me as soon as
he reached San Francisco. This cheering message
gave me new courage, I began to count the days and
to look forward more hopefully. I decided, although
it was so late in the season, to wait here in the cot
tage until my father came. When Mrs. Bainbridge
left to open our house in Washington, I had intended
to follow her a few days before Christmas, but for
some unexplained reason, I could not make up my
mind to leave the cottage. After the message came
the question was settled — I was to remain here.

SOLARIS FARM. 61

CHAPTER XII.

SPIRIT AND MORTAL. — FATHER AND DAUGHTER.

"AT THIS point, Mr. Flagg, I wish you to care
fully note the significance of the strange event which
soon followed. Christmas Eve, 1903, found me here
alone, seated at my desk, alternately reading, mus
ing and writing. All day a terriffic snow storm had
been raging, at nightfall it continued with increased
severity. I could hear the fierce gale shriek as it
lashed the tree tops furiously. I shuddered when I
thought what danger such a gale might mean to the
good steamer, bearing my father homeward bound
across the rough, icy waters of that far off wintry
sea ; that yawning, terrible, treacherous sea !

"During the afternoon I had been nervous and
lonely. As a solace, I had a long talk from my
mother through the trumpet, which cheered and
comforted me greatly, especially her confident prom
ise that I should hear from papa even sooner than I
had hoped. Over this I was musing when a strange
thing happened. I was startled by the low tones of
a familiar voice from the trumpet. Almost frozen
with fear, I heard : ' Do not be frightened, my dar
ling; I am your father, Fennimore Fenwick, who
loves you, if possible, more than ever. A frightful
storm wrecked the steamer and released me from
my body. Nearly all of the passengers and crew
perished with me. A few still survive ; they are in
a single open boat, tossing helplessly in the awful
surge of that wild waste of water, possibly they may
yet be saved. My dear wife, Martina, your own
beautiful mother, was watching and waiting for me
at the scene of the wreck. Hers the beautiful arms

62 SOLARIS FARM.

that welcomed me as I was born into the new life of
the spirit. How glorious it was that she, so dear to
me, could be there. In the radiance and splendor of
all her spiritual loveliness, I was charmed almost to
the point of forgetfulness. I seemed to be floating
on the bosom of a sea of golden mist, my spirit filled
with a measureless contentment. Presently I awoke
to a vivid consciousness of my new life. In the light
of the loving eyes of my peerless Martina, I was
soon made to realize that I had just passed painless
ly from life mortal to life spiritual. I perceived that
time and space no longer barred the flight of my
freed spirit. Hand in hand we came ; almost before
I knew it we were here. Thanks to your medium-
ship, and to this trumpet, I could come and speak to
you so soon. Yes, my dear child, we three, a lov
ing trio, are still united just as of yore. I shall be
permitted to help you, from this side of life, to carry
out and complete my plans and purposes regarding
improved modes of farm life. I wrote you from
Alaska on the fifth of this month, announcing my in
tention of sailing on the tenth , that letter came by
a Victoria steamer and will soon reach you. At that
time I was weighed down by a premonition of some
impending disaster. So seriously was I impressed,
that I at once made arrangements with Dewitt C.
Dunbar, in case of my death, to continue to operate
the mine in partnership with you on the terms now
in force, and this he was perfectly willing to do.
By the terms of my will, now in the hands of my at
torneys at Washington, you are at this moment, sole
heir to my large fortune. As you know, I long ago
placed my brothers and sisters beyond the reach of
want. Well do I know, my dear girl, that I can
trust you perfectly, to carry forward my work,'

SOLARIS FARM. 63

"As his voice ceased to vibrate in the trumpet, I
sprang to my feet with outstretched and imploring
hands : 'Father ! ' I cried, * How can I do this work
alone? I am yet but a child, with a very limited
business experience to fit me for this great responsi
bility.' He at once replied: 'Fear not, my child.
Faithful, capable, and trustworthy help shall be
brought to you. At all times I shall be near, to ad
vise, and to guard you and your interests. Go for
ward bravely in the conscious power of your own po
tential spirit, dominant and dauntless. Armed with
the majesty and mystery of your mediumship, all
obstacles shall yield, and naught shall prevail over
you ! ' This prophetic command, so thrilling, so im
perative, touched and stirred my inner self ; my soul
responded to the appeal. In one brief moment I re
gained my self control ; was calm, could think clearly
and reason logically.

"At intervals throughout the night I continued to
consult with my parents. My father advised me to
write at once, announcing his death, and requesting
Mr. Dunbar to fix a time at which he could meet me
in San Francisco, for a conference. This I did at
the earliest practicable moment.1'

CHAPTER XIII.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

AT THIS point in her story, Fern Fenwick said :
"Mr. Flagg, I now realize the wonderful prescience
of my father's promise of abundant and timely help,
especially when I consider your life work, and the

64 SOLARIS FARM.

masterly way you have equipped yourself for it, and
finally, by the mysterious manner in which we were
brought together. Is it not almost like a miracle ? ''

"Really, Miss Fenwick, I am lost in amazement!
It seems to me that I must be dreaming ! The situa
tion is so entirely outside of my experience, so un-
thinkably strange to me, that I doubt my ability to
discuss it intelligently. Your story is the most mar
velous of anything I have ever heard. I feel quite
sure that it must be strictly true, yet I can scarcely
comprehend it. A host of questions arise in my
mind, which I wish to ask, if I may be permitted.
When you heard the voice from the trumpet, how
could you feel so sure it was your father speaking ?
That he had been swallowed up by the sea? . That
the shipwreck had really occurred ? "

"I do not wonder at your questions, Mr. Flagg,"
said Fern Fenwick, " Iwill gladly answer as best I
can. Without considering or discussing the fact that
the crucial test of identity was disclosed by almost
every word which my father uttered, yet I could not
for a moment doubt his presence. I knew he was
there.. I recognized every intonation of the voice. I
felt the identity of his spiritual personality, radiant
with the silent force of his love for me, quite as
plainly as though at that moment his physical per
sonality had entered the room. My experience after
my mother's transition, the development of my me-
diumship, and my increased sensitiveness to the
presence of spiritual entities, no doubt aided me
greatly. At that time I perceived and recognized
without question, that life in the physical is but the
expression of the spirit, or Ego ; that after the pass
ing of the physical, the Ego inherits and possesses
immortality as a conscious individual entity, clothed

SOLARIS FARM. 65

with a spiritual body, perfectly fitted for its con
tinued existence in the realms of the world of spirit ;
that, through the action of a natural law, the law of
mediumship, such spirits can and do, come to and
communicate with their friends and loved ones in
earth life. All these things, I knew my father un
derstood clearly, therefore I was prepared to accept
the verity of his spiritual presence as readily as I
would any other phenomenon of nature. In conclu
sion, I may as well tell you at this point, that the
letter referred to by father as having been written
by him in Alaska on December fifth, together with
my conference in San Francisco, some months later,
with Dewitt C. Dunbar ; the arrival in port at that
time of a China steamer, bringing the mate and four
sailors as sole survivors from the wreck of the ill-
fated steamer, and my interview with them, all con
firmed, in every particular, the truth of the state
ments concerning the matter, which were made by
my spirit father, just after his passage through the
gateway of death from life mortal to life spiritual.
Can I add anything more convincing ? "

"Pardon me, Miss Fenwick ! I believe what you
have told me is absolutely true. I can perceive and
appreciate its wonderful significance only in part. I
understand now clearly why it was necessary for me
to know so much of the story of your life and that
of your noble father. I have listened to your story
with almost breathless interest, with all I am pro
foundly impressed. A new world is opening to me.
My mental and spiritual horizon has been extended
beyond the power of words to express. Life has a
thousand new meanings : In them I read the impor
tance and responsibility of the great work we are
about to undertake. I wait with increased interest

66 SOLARIS FARM.

for my personal interview with your father. Now
that I have heard so much of him, I bow with added
reverence to his great and noble love for humanity
which prompted, and his wonderful genius which
conceived and planned the work so generously. 1
am proud and thankful that I have been chosen as
an instrument deemed capable and worthy of help
ing to carry it forward.

"As to things spiritual, pertaining to a life beyond
the grave, I am intensely interested and eager tc
know more. May I hope, Miss Fenwick, that you
will kindly consent to become my teacher in this
new school of wonderful phenomena and spiritua
law ? I too, am alone in the world ; my father anc
mother have both passed the bitter flood of the dark
river of death. They too, like your parents, must
now be living in the world of spirit as conscious,
loving father and mother, with hearts filled with a
living, glowing affection that can and will respond
to my own. Can it be possible that I am to feel and
know this by direct communication with them ? "

"I shall be delighted, Mr. Flagg, to help you in
this matter in any way that I can. Your desire foi
a direct communication from your parents is per
fectly natural and right and, I doubt not, will be
fully gratified in a few days.

"In this connection, let me ask: Have you eve]
had a seance with a medium ? Do you know anything
about the laws that control and govern mediumshipi
Have you been interested to any extent in reading
the all-comprehensive philosophy which medium
ship demonstrates?"

"I am very glad, Miss Fenwick, that you hav€
put those questions. I desire to state briefly anc
frankly my attitude, up to this time, towards me

SOLARIS FARM. 67

diumship and the philosophy and phenomena of
spiritual manifestations generally : I believe I was
a born agnostic. All my life I have been skeptical
as to the verity of a life beyond the grave. In this
I have differed widely from my people, a large ma
jority of whom have been zealous Presbyterians for
at least five generations, while I have followed Vol
taire and Ingersoll. In the ranks of their following
I have been content to cry : * I don't know ! I can
wait ! One world at a time is enough for me ! ' As
to mediumship, or any manifestations of it, I know
almost nothing. The few mediums I have met acci
dentally, have unfortunately failed to impress me
favorably. All that I have heard or read of them
has had a strong tendency to predjudice me against
them and the philosophy they taught. Therefore,
until my visit to this cottage, I have never been at
all interested in the matter. I now perceive that in
studying the great problem of life, and how best to
learn most about it, I have utterly ignored one of the
most important sources of both information and in
spiration. My predjudice and indifference have van
ished. I wonder at myself, at my readiness to acept
your point of view regarding your most marvelous
| mediumship and its wonderful manifestations ; at my
'feverish interest and anxiety to learn all I can about
things spiritual at the earliest possible moment ; at
my intense longing for the complete verification of
| all the beautiful propositions relating to spiritual life
which you have stated so eloquently and so convinc
ingly ; but most of all do I wonder and am amazed
that these things are not miracles; that they occur
through the action of natural law, which, if true,
makes it possible— nay probable— that mediumship
its manifestations are as old as life itself. This,

68 SOLARIS FARM.

Miss Fenwick, defines my position as clearly as I can
state it. Do you think I am likely to prove a pupil
worthy of his teacher ? "

"I most assuredly do, Mr. Flagg," said Fern. "I
think you are now prepared for the promised inter
view with my father. However, before he joins us,
I wish to say by way of explanation, that when I am
here alone, he can use the trumpet with ease at any
moment and in any kind of light, but in the presence
of strangers, different conditions are required. We
shall at first be obliged to use another kind of light.
By the aid of this light you can plainly see the trum
pet, supported horizontally in the air just over his
chair, but you will be unable to discern even the
faintest outline of the spiritual form holding it ; as
in using the trumpet, the vital force of both the
manifesting spirit and the medium is concentrated in
the trumpet in the effort of speaking. Sit perfectly
quiet for a moment ; I will close the windows and
prepare the room."

A few touches on the small keyboard in her desk,
and lo the heavy double curtains swiftly and silently
unrolled and covered the windows. At the same
moment, the beautifully ornamented, dome shaped
center of the lofty ceiling began to glow with a con
stellation of soft, phosphorescent lights, filling the
room with a radiance as mild and silvery as moon
light, and yet even more soothing to the nerves.
Presently the air was vibrant with the low, sweet
strains of distant music, soft and slow and of such
exquisite harmony that it seemed a rare combination
of all that was inspiring, charming and beautiful in
the variations of time, sound and rythm. The com
bined effect of the light and the music on Fillmore
Flagg was electrical. Every nerve was thrilled

SOLARIS FARM. 69

with rapture. He was completely absorbed. As the
music ceased he turned with a start to look for the
trumpet. As he looked, it slowly rose from the
chair and there came from it the clear tones of a
manly voice, full of sweetness and power. He heard
these words: "Fern, my daughter, will you tell
this gentleman who I am ? "

"My dear father," said Fern, "How glad I am
; that you have joined us ! Mr. Flagg, this is my
j father, Fennimore Fonwick, of whom I have told
j you so much. Father, this is Mr. Fillmore Flagg,
I who, as you already know, has promised to devote
himself to our work."

As the trumpet slowly moved nearer, Mr. Fenwick
said: "Mr. Flagg, as the father of Fern Fenwick,
I extend to you a cordial greeting and a most hearty
welcome to Fairy Fern Cottage. I trust this is but
the commencement of a long and uninterrupted ac-
luaintence, which may soon ripen into a true friend
ship, that shall bring much pleasure and profit to
both. I am exceedingly well pleased with your ad
vanced ideas on the subject of co-operative farming
as the proper cure for the evils that now make farm
life so miserable and so unsatisfactory. I wish par
ticularly to congratulate you on the thoroughly sys
tematic and successful methods you have adopted to
'it yourself so well for this peculiar work.

"Now my young friend, one moment to another
natter which is likely to prove of great interest to
'pu. I find your parents in spirit life. I met them
Jince you came to the cottage. They approve of
'our chosen life work. They are very proud of you,
neir beloved son and only child. They bid me give
ou a message of love with the assurance that they
v i speak to you through this trumpet very soon."

70 SOLARIS FARM.

"Mr. Fenwick," said Fillmore Flagg, "I thank
you for the encouragement of your kindly greeting
and for the many pleasant things you have said of
me and my work. In the future I shall strive con
scientiously to merit your praise, and hope to earn
your lasting friendship. As to the glad tidings from
my parents in spirit life, I am rejoiced. In my heart
the torch of hope is lighted ; its pure flame is fast
burning away the barriers of the belief I have so
long entertained, that 'Death ends all,' also of the
equally depressing creed of my Presbyterian people,
who have so long taught and thought that 'The
dead know not anything;' that my parents, with
that vast army of souls, having passed the portals
of the tomb, are now lost in the oblivion of that long
unconscious, dreamless slumber, which stretches
from the new made grave to The Day of Judgment.
Hence, the message of love from my parents, with
the assurance that they will speak to me so soon,
has made me very happy. I am content to wait pa
tiently for such further messages as opportunity
may bring to me. I am ready and eager, Mr. Fen-
wick, to hear your plans. Please proceed."

"Very well," said Fennimore Fenwick. "Fern,
my daughter, you are to remain at your desk with
pencil and note book, prepared to take down what I
have to say."

SOLARIS FARM. 71

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ETHICS OP PLANETARY EVOLUTION.

"In order to plan this work wisely, and to discuss
it understandingly, it will be necessary at the begin
ning to go back to first principles, to try to discover
the real object and purpose of human life on this
planet. In searching along the pathway of count
less ages in our planet's history, we discover a con
tinuous upward movement in the progression of the
manifestations of life ; from the mineral to the vege
table ; from the vegetable to the animal ; from the
animal to man. Man representing the apex of prog
ress in the constantly ascending spiral of the evolu
tion of life from the birth of the planet to the pres
ent time. Therefore, both spirit and mortal, we are
all children of the planet, chained to its destiny, all
alike working factors in the achievement of its pur
pose so mighty. Through the planet, its solar sys
tem, and the system of systems in a long line of an
infinite series, far beyond the power of computation,
we are also the children of the Great Oversoul, the
Source and Center of all life !

"Human life, then, is the flower and fruit of the
planet — the highest combined expression of its life —
each life a planetary seed, a concentrated possibility
of all expressions of planet life. Perhaps the most
convincing and beautiful illustration of the truth of
this vital and all important proposition is, that the
reproductive cells of man in his highest state of de
velopment, multiply by fission, or self-division into
halves, as did the primal sperm of protoplasm at the
very beginning of vegetable and animal life. This

72 SOLARIS FARM.

great philogenetic vine with its myriads of branch
ing arms, reaches in an unbroken line from the low
est to the highest forms of life ; all alike are fruit of
this vine. This offers indisputable evidence of the
common brotherhood of humanity ! the motherhood
of the planet ! the fatherhood of the Great Oversoul !
"From these premises we may safely conclude
that the object and purpose of this planet is the evo
lution of human beings, their continued growth and
development, until the state of perfection for the en
tire race is reached. With this comes the complete;
achievement of the purpose of the existence of the
planet. Hence, we perceive that human life is the
most precious production of the planet. Henceforth
its energies are to flow towards the perfecting of the
human race.

"In the great, white light of a higher understand
ing of these basic and vital truths, let us strive to
make conditions for the protection of ALL human
life. The task becomes less difficult as we more
readily comprehend and appreciate the magnitude
of the thought, that through the planet, this sacred
life is the immortal and enduring expression of the
Eternal Spirit. Viewed in this light, we apprehenc
clearly that all acts, by society or individuals, which
tend to protect, promote and purify this life, ar(
good, right and holy, and in their doing, become the
highest and best expression of a sacred religious
duty. On the contrary, all acts of society or indi<
viduals, which tend to destroy, injure, poison O]
sully this sacred life, or to bar its ordained progress,
are, in themselves, unholy, wrong, criminal anc
cruel, and in commission, become the greatest anc
most unpardonable of all sins.

"All this becomes more apparent, when we con

SOLARIS FARM. 73

sider that the sum of the pleasant sensations of the
individual, and the happifying emotions which flow
from them, constitutes the sum of human happiness.
All conditions of life which promote right living,
ethical culture and moral growth, nourish and call
forth emotions of truth and honesty, pure pleasure,
adoration, worship, hope, affection, love and all the
higher and nobler characteristics, build up life and
increase its capacity for happiness. Through the
action of an equally inexorable and unswerving law,
the misery and crime which poverty breeds, with
its bitterness of hate, grief and despair, and all the
train of other evil emotions engendered thereby, are
poisonous in their nature; they tear down .and de
stroy life. Therefore that social and industrial sys
tem which affords most abundantly, and for all of the
people, conditions that are life-promoting and pover
ty-banishing, is logically the nearest just and right,
because it is the nearest in harmony with natural
law, and the object and purpose of human life.

"Society as a whole, like a chain with defective
links, is no stronger socially, morally, industrially,
or politically, than its weakest unit. Hence it be
comes the self interest of every individual member
to endeavor unselfishly to build up and strengthen
the weaker units in every possible way.

"These propositions furnish the only sound basis
for a perfect system of political economy — a system
which shall afford the greatest amount of good or
happiness to all the people. In considering the
clearness and startling significance of these truths,
.we discover the cruel, criminal wrong of any system
of competition, based on the old barbaric law of the
survival of the fittest, which in its application means
the pleasure and happiness of the few at the expense

71 SOLARIS FARM.

of the toil, pain and misery of the many. In this
connection we note that man, in his evolutionary
progress, has reached a point where, being mentally
and spiritually awakened to a knowledge of the
higher purposes of life, he perceives the true effect
of environmental conditions, with their good and
evil tendencies. He also perceives the cause and the
cure. Armed with the talisman of this knowledge,
he boldly enters the field of causation and thencefor
ward becomes a self-directing factor in his own evo
lution. At this important stage, he clearly compre
hends, that the injury of one is the concern of all;
that the perfection of all becomes the. highest inter
est of each ; that the unprogressive law of the sur
vival of the fittest, is nullified and replaced by the
higher law of unselfishness of the individual for the
advancement of the race ; that the dual nature of
man, physical and spiritual, must be considered as
inseparable, when dealing with the practical ques
tions of life; that physical life, as the primary
school of existence, is ephemeral, while the spiritu
al is the permanent and enduring; that, conse
quently, the path of progress for the human soul,
lies almost entirely in the realms of the spiritual;
that a life on the physical plane, devoted solely to
selfishness, dwarfs and chokes the spiritual nature,
and becomes a serious bar to unfoldment and prog
ress on the spiritual plane of existence: Finally,
that, like the pent up energies of some mighty vol
cano, the irresistible upward thrust of nature's un
foldment, ever producing and disclosing higher ex
pressions of life, is to find its present outlet through
these channels, by the wise use of methods in har
mony with the principles stated. "

SOLARIS FARM. 75

CHAPTER XV.

THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN SOCIAL
EVOLUTION.

"FROM the thorough understanding and appreci
ation of these principles, by the workers on your
model co-operative farm, must come the necessary
zeal, the cementing enthusiasm of a mighty purpose
which, with ever increasing volume, shall urge them
forward to the goal of complete success. As one of
the means to insure this success, we must strive to
introduce a new era for agriculture, in which co-op
erative working shall be supplemented and rein
forced by co-operative thinking. As applied to farm
work, this is a new and untried field which promises
grand results.

"In all kinds of productive labor, muscular effort
is a mental demonstration ! The keener the men
tality controlling the muscles, the more satisfactory
the work accomplished. The more interested and
the healthier and happier the laborer is in his work,
the easier it becomes for him to produce superior re
sults. For centuries, farm work has been considered
the natural avocation of the ignorant and the illiter
ate ! Strange as it may appear, it seems to have
been generally conceded that the typical clodhopper
was the ordained farmer ! That this perverted idea
regarding the requirements of a tiller of the soil,
should have maintained its existence for so many
ages, is a matter of profound astonishment to every
intelligent thinker !"

"Pardon me, Mr. Fenwick,'' said Fillmore Flagg,
"if at this time I quote a case in point from my own

76 SOLARIS FARM.

state. As late as the year 1897, a Bishop Withing-
ton, of Nebraska, speaking of farmers' sons who
were struggling for an education, says of them :

1 i i The farmers' sons — a great many of them — who
have absolutely no ability to rise, get a taste of edu
cation and follow it up. They will never amount to
anything — that is, many of them — and they become
dissatisfied to follow in the walk of life that God in
tended they should, and drift into cities. It is the
over- education of those who are not qualified to re
ceive it that fills our cities, while the farms lie idle. '

"This, Mr. Fenwick, is but a sample of many like
expressions from the lips of public men, showing
the stigma and low estimate which is placed on far
mers as a class, by clerical, professional and commer
cial people. When we consider that farming people
form a large majority of the citizens of our republic,
a republic whose constitution guarantees equal rights
for all; whose chief corner stone from the beginning,
has been its admirable system of free education in
its public schools; the manifest endeavor of the
Bishop and his class, to consign the tillers of the
soil to a caste of low order, and to argue that educa
tion is for the few and not for the farmer, indicates
something radically wrong in our social system that
augurs ill for the future of our republic. That the
dissatisfaction is widespread and serious, is manifest
to all thinkers and observers. To discover the cause1
and cure, and to speedily apply the remedy for this)
growing discontent, becomes an imperative duty fotf
all patriotic people. In my experience, the follow
ing are some of the most prolific causes :

"The isolation and loneliness of the small farm.

"The long hours of tedious, monotonous toil for,
both man and woman.

SOLARIS FARM. 77

"The constantly increasing competition of large
farms, armed with capital and expensive machinery,
which tends to reduce the price of farm products.

"The want of proper society, healthful amuse
ments/books, and many other necessary educational
facilities.

"The discouraging meagerness of the financial re
turns for a year of such constant toil.

"These things all tend to destroy the farmer's
love for, and pride in, his occupation, until farm
work becomes a repulsive drudgery, and he flies to
the city for a more congenial employment. Is it
then, under the circumstances, any wonder that the
farmers' sons should become dissatisfied with the
occupation of their birth ? That in company with
their sisters and sweethearts they should be deter
mined, at all hazards, to escape from the evils of
what Bishop Withington terms a 'God-ordained' class
of hewers of wood, drawers of water, and tillers of
the soil, a class which dooms them and their chil
dren to a future of hopeless toil ?

' ' Agriculture forms the basis and support of our
national, industrial and commercial success. There
fore it is imperative that agricultural pursuits be
made to become the most noble and pleasing of all
'Occupations. How can this be accomplished?

"Surely, co-operative farming, with its improved
• conditions and methods, is the remedy indicated ! "

"Yes, Mr. Flagg," said Fennimore Fenwick, "Co-

< operative farming is the partial remedy which shall

start the healing process, and lead to the discovery

of a perfect cure. You have ably stated the evils

which make living on small farms so unsatisfactory.

You have also made an excellent argument fcr our

1 work from the text Bishop Withington has so blindly

78 SOLARIS FARM.

and unthinkingly furnished. It is quite evident that
neither he nor his class, have the least conception of
the true cause of the discontent they so deeply de
plore, It is also equally clear that with all the ad
vantages of superior conditions, with the observa
tion and education of a lifetime, they have so far,
utterly failed to understand or appreciate the real
object and purpose of human life. They are sorely
in need of an object lesson which we must furnish.

' ' In efforts to slake a natural thirst for knowledge,
the brightest minds, the most profound thinkers of
the past ten centuries, at the end of lives devoted to
study, have declared that the vast domain of knowl
edge still remained practically an unexplored field.
This domain is for coming generations to conquer
and possess. It invites the efforts of millions of co
operative thinkers, born and trained for the task.
Hence, to me, it is as clear as the noonday sun that
the embodiment of more mind by our agricultural
people, is a matter of imperative necessity. They
should have the leisure and the opportunity to be
come familiar with all the varied phenomena of na
ture, through the recorded observations that com
prise the different sciences, which describe and ex
plain all phases of surrounding life. Thus equipped,
they will be able to discover that they are a living,
working, part of nature, which defined, means the
combined life of the planet ; that they act upon all
things about them and are in turn acted upon. A,
comprehension of these things can come only to th£
cultivated mind, and the richer its store of facts, the
more perfect its grasp and control of surrounding^
conditions. Therefore mind, as the expression of
the soul and body of the dual individual on the phys-j
ical plane of existence, is EVERYTHING ! It controls

SOLARIS FARM. 79

and molds structure ; the body ; the people around.
'All history is but a detailed description of the action
of mind.

"The great minds are the dominant thinkers; they
sway the multitude, mold public opinion, effect legis
lation and shape the nation. These dominant minds
should come from the people of the soil, as best
equipped to discover and proclaim the law of the
planet's unfoldment, also best able to conceive and
formulate the wise laws which should guide and
•govern its people. Hence the necessity for our far
mers to become thinkers — dominant thinkers.

"What are the best conditions for mind unfold
ment ?

"As Professor Elmer Gates so wisely says, 'The
human body is composed of myriads of living organ
isms — a co-operative colony of more or less intelli
gent cells — which respond to the control of the indi
vidual Ego through the action of the mind, and to
the electrical conditions which flow from the emo
tions. ' Hence the body is an important part of the
thinking machine and, therefore, a perfect mind
smust absolutely be the highest expression of a per
fect body. The perfect body needs to be well born.
!To be well born, is to demand conditions for a per
fect motherhood, and the perfect unfoldment of both
mother and child together.

1 ' Where can these conditions be found ?

"We find them best and most abundant in the
rural districts, far from the turmoil and strife, the
smoke and poisonous gases of the great city. Sur
rounded by fields and forests, in the pure air of a
broad expanse of country, domed with the blue sky,
and flooded with golden sunlight, on the soil of the
farm, close to the fostering bosom of our planet

80 SOLARIS FARM.

mother, Earth. Therefore it must be the distinctive
and well denned purpose of our co-operative farm to
furnish and perfect these conditions, thus uniting in
perfect harmony stirpiculture with agriculture, a
union as poetical as it is practical. From these con
ditions must come a race of dominant thinkers, the
exponents and champions of the real objects and
purposes of human life.

' ' With the coming of such a race, comes the begin
ning of the era of unselfishness, and the end of the
present era of selfishnes, the age of gold worship,
where greed for gold blights and withers public and
private conscience, dominates and corrupts all forms
of society, and makes conditions which breed mo
nopolies, caste, tramps, paupers, armies of idle men,
strikes, discontent, starvation and revolution !

"Verily, a perfect catalogue of the ways and
means by which 'Man's inhumanity to man, makes
countless millions mourn ! ' With the dawn of the
unselfish era, comes the demonstration of how man's
humanity to man can and wil] make countless mill
ions rejoice !

' ' In selecting the people who are to be the active,
working members of our co-operative farm, it is a
matter of the utmost importance that they should be
chosen from a class of persons who are capable oJ
thinking in harmony on religious and political ques
tions, who are already in sympathy with progres-,
sive ideas and co-operative work, intelligently alive
to its importance and to its advantages, capable of
understanding and appreciating that it is not the
sole purpose of the organization to make money but
also to accomplish a multitude of things besides :

* ' First and foremost, to ennoble the occupation of
their birthright.

SOLARIS FARM. 81

"To make farming the most charming1 and health
ful and most desirable of all vocations.

1 1 To make it so remunerative that a reserve fund
can be accumulated, sufficiently large to enable its
members to purchase the necessary land for an ever
increasing series of co-operative farms, for their
children and their children's children for genera
tions yet to come.

"To unite stirpiculture so closely with agriculture
that a race of perfect children shall be the crowning
glory of all the productions of the farm.

"To afford ideal conditions for motherhood and
childhood, that all children may be proudly wel
comed to a world of loving hearts ; that they may be
well born, wisely and beautifully unfolded mentally,
morally, spiritually and physically ; that they may
be skillfully taught how to work; to think, to reason,
and to comprehend and appreciate the true purposes
of life, consequently their duties as true men and wo
men—self-poised and noble, a law unto themselves —
capable and fully prepared to enter the walks of life
as worthy and honored citizens of an ideal republic.

' ' That it is to be the province of the farm, by the
co-operative thinking of its workers, to develop and
increase the fertility and productiveness of the val
leys and plains to such an extent that the hills and
mountains may be reclothed with beautiful forests
of choice trees, of varieties most valued for lumber
and timber ; also great orchards of the choicest va
rieties of fruit and nut bearing trees, as a source of
future pleasure and profit, at the same time prepar
ing the way for a more complete control of climatic
conditions. By the process of shading and protect
ing the slopes of both hill and mountain by these
valuable forests, a magical change for the better is

82 SOLARIS FARM.

effected. Everywhere a soft, spongy carpet of fal
len leaves, ever increasing in thickness, is spread
out, moistening and enriching the soil and conserv
ing the waters of the increased rainfall. A thousand
living springs of pure, sparkling water make glad
the plains and valleys. The evils of flood, erosion
and drouth are checked ; the climate made more con
genial; the value of both hill and mountain, as a
source of wealth, increased a thousand fold.

"Aided by the organization of our co-operative
association, which makes it possible to treat large
tracts of land as a single farm, this great work can
be easily and surely accomplished by the earnest
and united efforts of a people who, surrounded by
conditions of comfort and plenty, are in a suitable
mood to plant what their children and coming gen
erations may enjoy.

"As an evidence of man's awakening conscious
ness of his power, by means of intelligent co-opera
tion, to make conditions that shall protect him and
his loved ones from the many calamities which have
hitherto beset and overwhelmed human lives, we
note the extraordinary work accomplished by the
different classes of insurance companies, during the
past fifty years. These companies are in fact large
bodies of people, incorporated and working co-opera
tively and systematically together to protect them
selves. The success which has followed their efforts
in this direction has, for the thinker, a marked sig
nificance, pregnant with suggestions for the future.
In the co-operative farm, organized and carried for
ward on lines in harmony with the principles and:
purposes before stated, this system of insurance, in
its simplest, least expensive and most practical form,
is to be carried to its fullest extent into all the

SOLARIS FARM. 83

departments of life. By its wise provisions for the
care and protection of the weaker units, it insures
its members against loss of employment or wages ;
against sickness, injury or accident; against poverty,
hunger and crime. It insures to all, for themselves
and their children, the perpetual right to occupy and
till the soil, and thus to secure by short hours of
pleasant, attractive labor, the generous return which
can be obtained only by the most perfect system of
scientific, co-operative farming, armed with abun
dant capital. In addition, it insures to them all the
advantages of birth, health, education, society and
amusement which money can buy for the wealthy :
more leisure, more opportunities for mental, social,
ethical and scientific self-culture. It also insures to
the world at large an object lesson which shall dem
onstrate that the way is open for the poorest farm
laborer to secure the same results by joining these
progressive co-operative bodies.

"In looking forward to the effect upon society
which these combined farms may have, we must
consider the numbers and strength of the opposing
force which, on every hand, will rise up as a bar to
progress. For years, gold, that concentrated essence
of selfishness, has been recognized by its worshipers
as the crowned king of society, whose crimson ban
ners have borne these suggestive mottoes : * I am
not my brother's keeper ! His injuries concern me
not ! ' 'Every man for himself ! ' 'It is well and good
and right that the happiness of the few should be
secured at the expense of the misery of the many,
for is it not written, "The poor ye have always. "? '

"Fortunately, the law of compensation limits and
finally crushes the reign of selfishness, causing it
to perish by its own efforts to live, which in time

84 SOLARIS FARM.

destroy the substance upon which it feeds. Hence
we may look hopefully to the future. With pro
phetic eyes we may behold the victorious march of
these farm units by companies, battalions, regi
ments, brigades and divisions, like a vast army of
peace, silently spreading, absorbing and conquering
the old selfish system, grandly demonstrating the
solidarity of human life, and the irresistible force of
the combined efforts of thousands of bravely unself
ish souls, working and thinking in unison, filled with
enthusiasm kindled and inspired by the magnitude
and grandeur of the true purposes of life.

"Having thus broadly outlined the scope of the
work, with its underlying principles, we may now
give attention to the details of the plan for the ini
tial farm. In this I would advise that the enterprise
be made to adapt itself, so far as possible, to the
present commercial and industrial conditions. That
it be an incorporated stock company, limited. That
its corporate life be for the longest possible term of
years, with the right to renew. That it shall secure
and control at least five thousand acres of land, to
more readily enable it to dominate the township, as
the lowest political unit of the republic ; and also to
give room for the planting of suitable forests. That
its capital stock be limited to one thousand shares,
to be divided equally among five hundred co-opera
tors, composed of two hundred and fifty couples or
families. That at the end of five years'the stock be
issued to the subscribers as paid up stock, by cash
from the sinking fund, paid in for that purpose.
That the stock of a retiring member can be sold
only to the treasury of the company, the same to be
re-issued to the succeeding member. That in order
to avoid friction with the outside commercial world,

SOLARIS FARM. 85

the stockholders collectively shall sell to themselves
individually, at ruling market prices, whatever they
may need, the profits to go as a contribution from
all to the insurance fund for the aged. That the
care of the sick and the injured, and the education
of the children, be classed and paid as a legitimate
expense of the farm. That the co-operators collec
tively, pay to themselves individually, a wage suf
ficiently generous to enable them to purchase what
they may desire in the way of furniture, food and
and clothing ; allowing for a liberal percentage to be
devoted to the sinking fund, to pay for the farm, the
stock, and also for the additional land that may be
secured as future farms for the children. That all
other details necessary for the successful carrying
out of these plans, be left for a satisfactory solution,
to the practical working and co-operative thinking
of the members of the farm.

"I wish you, Mr. Flagg, as soon as may be con
venient, to make a tour of inspection for the pur
pose of selecting and purchasing ten of the most
available sites for such farms that you can find.
From the ten you shall choose the one best adapted
to the conditions required for the initial farm.

"After occupation, at the end of five years, these
lands are to be sold to the co-operators, at the pur
chase price, which, in any event, must not exceed
the sum of ten dollars per acre. Until the deeds are
made to the co-operators, these lands are to be in
your custody as sole agent and director.

"In these matters my daughter, Fern, will aid
you in every possible way. Many times you will
find her advice valuable, therefore when needed,
command it without hesitation. I have an abiding
faith that her inspiration will benefit you in many

86 SOLARIS FARM.

ways in achieving success for the model farm;
a matter in which I am greatly interested and to
which, as both mortal and spirit, I have for a num
ber of years given close attention and much earnest
thought. I now leave the matter to you and to Fern
for such thought and discussion as the occasion may
demand. I shall be glad at any time to answer ques
tions concerning any particular point. • Good night,
Mr. Flagg; Good night my daughter."

As Fennimore Fenwick bade them good night,
both Fillmore and Fern returned the salutation, and
Fern rose from her chair, saying :

"I think, Mr. Flagg, that until now I have never
quite understood the broad principles of real unself
ishness. In the light of my father's comprehensive
statement of the true purpose of human life, they
stand forth in bold relief, clear and strong. What a
grand incentive they offer, to stir the zeal and en
thusiasm of our co-operative workers ! All life is
affected by them and discloses new meanings. All
life seems more precious, more sacred. Yet the task
assigned to you, Mr. Flagg, is not an easy one: I
foresee many difficulties, but you will overcome all
of them. The plan is so thoroughly in harmony
with right and justice, so fraught with happiness
for the masses, that it must succeed ! I trust that
you feel encouraged to go forward hopefully with
the work ? "

"Thanks to Fennimore Fenwick," replied Fill-
more Flagg, ' ' I am armed against all obstacles by a
new philosophy of life. Its possibilities, as applied
to practical work, are beyond computation ! His
masterly statement of the true theory and purpose
of human life, embodies the crystallized wisdom of
centuries. I am profound]y impressed with it. Ap-

SOLARIS FARM. 87

plied to my chosen life work, it demands my best
thought, my entire devotion : to co-operative work
as exemplified by our proposed model farm, it means
unqualified success !

"Pardon me, Miss Fenwick, you have been hard
at work, writing rapidly for a long time. You need
rest. Let us then postpone further discussion until
tomorrow."

"Yes, I think that will be best," replied Fern, "so
good night, Mr. Flagg."

"Good night, Miss Fenwick."

CHAPTER XVI.

FILLMORE AND FERN.

FOR Fillmore Flagg, a never-to-be-forgotten week
has passed since the interview with Fennimore Fen
wick, noted in our previous chapter. He is still at
Fairy Fern Cottage, busy with preparatory work for
his coming tour. Momentous events, which have
radically changed his life, have followed each other
in quick succession. Hours have passed as moments
fly, in absorbing interviews with his spirit father
and mother. His store of questions in relation to
their experiences in spirit life, have all been an
swered : these answers have in turn suggested many
more, until now he is satisfied. For him, the two
worlds have been united — the continuity of life be
yond the grave has been established as a verity past
contradiction. As conscious individuals and loving
parents in the realms of spirit life, his father and
mother are as real to him as mortals. With each

88 SOLARIS FARM.

succeeding interview this conviction has grown, un
til, fully conscious of their loving sympathy and
support, he begins to comprehend the connection
between life and immortality ; the stupendous mean
ing of immortal life — of never-ending progression —
overshadows and dominates all other thoughts. In
profound reverence he repeats to himself :

' ' How noble, how sacred, how wonderful is life !
A few years, comparably brief as moments, on the
mortal plane of existence, to be followed by an end
less Eternity, spent in gleaning wisdom and happi
ness from the rich fields of infinite progression. By
the measure of immortality, who shall attempt to
describe or limit the destiny of a human soul ? As
the epitome of the planet, the universe, and the uni
versal cosmos, it must follow that the human soul is
the repository of infinite possibilities. This, then,
is the spiritual heritage of all. Sin and suffering,
selfishness and greed, crime and vice in the transi
tory stage of the mortal, might stain and retard his
spiritual growth, but they could never destroy the
glorious possibilities of the final unfoldment."

This broad conception of the possibilities of hu
man life, here and hereafter, came to Pillmore Flagg
as a revelation of the most sacred and marvelous
character : in the light of such a revelation, the hid-
eousness of selfishness stood revealed like a grim
and warning monster. Now he saw the path of duty
plain before him. On the higher, broader plane of
unselfishness, he must strive to develop new powers
and new aspirations to aid him in making better con
ditions for a more perfect protection and unfoldment
of human life. To satisfy his highest ideal, he must
devote himself to this work. The inspiration of the
two worlds was upon him ! His love for Fern Fen-

SOLARIS FARM. 89

•wick, the personification of all that was noble and
beautiful, urged him forward ; intensified and de
veloped his highest aspirations for good ; permeated,
glorified and dominated his entire being. Love and
life ! — the former, the mystery and the crowning
glory of the latter.

Hours of self communion, alone in his room, had
for Fillmore Flagg a hitherto unknown charm. The
crowding memories of the happiest and by far the
the most important week of his life, with a tenacity
like fever-born visions, passed through and occupied
his mind again and yet again. The bright image of
Fern Fenwick was the central figure of each event,
her grace and beauty was its chief point of interest.

At her unrivaled cottage home he had been the
honored guest to whom she had paid her undivided
attention. Thanks to her wonderful mediumship, he
no longer felt himself an orphan — the gateway of
death was also the gateway of life. His father and
mother had been restored to him, joined again to his
life — Ms heritage of immortality assured ! The truth
had been made plain to him that the people of the
two worlds were joined by everlasting ties of love
and sympathy into the one great flood of humanity,
all human beings, all immortal spirits, incarnate,
excarnate.

Again, to Fern's mediumship he owed his acquain
tance with Fennimore Fenwick, whom he had learned
to know, to admire, to love and respect as the high
est type of a wise, great and noble man. How for
tunate he was in having so many opportunities for
learning from such a great master ! He prophesied
then and there, that the gratitude of coming gener
ations was to bear witness to the power, wisdom and
eloquence of Fennimore Fenwick's teachings.

00 SOLARIS FARM.

How the memory of all these things swelled the
tide of love for Fern Fenwiok, in the heart of Fill-
more Flagg. How bright and amiable, how glori
ously beautiful she was. How kind and gracious
she was to him, and what a delightful deference sh(
paid to his opinions ! Would he ever again experi
ence another week so full of unalloyed happiness ?|
He had but to close his eyes — a radiant vision
Fern Fenwick was before him, thrilling his heart
with hope, urging him forward to the goal of duty.]
With a sigh he thought of the coming journey. Foi
one blissful week, in the light of her angelic eyes,]
in the radiance of her loveliness, in the subtle char
of her magnetic presence, he had basked as in th<
sunshine of paradise : now the hour of parting
approaching, he must not allow himself to be des
pondent, that would be unmanly ; he must hope,]
wait, and work. Surely his star of destiny augurec
well for his future. Doubt he could not ; doubt IK
would not ! Yes, he would banish all thought oJ
parting. He would think of the work, of its de
mands, of how Fern had helped him to prepare foi
it. Oh how proud he was of the peerless girl thai
had grown so dear to him ! As he recalled the
hours they had spent together in discussing th<
plans of Fennimore Fenwick,- as applied to the sev
eral stages of development of the model farm,
he had admired and appreciated Fern's brilliant idej
her pertinent suggestions, her wonderful power t(
foresee administrative difficulties and to provide mosl
efficiently against them. How well these accom
plishments attested the high order of her intel
lectual training ; how perfectly they demonstrat(
the astuteness of her power of thought, when a]
plied to practical subjects. With such mental an<

SOLARIS FARM. 91

spiritual attributes, supplemented and intensified by
the deep inspiration and the awe inspiring majesty
of her mediumship, how immeasurably superior she
appeared when compared with other women. What
problem in life so knotty that she could not solve ?
With the aid of such a matchless woman, how could
he fail in the work before him ?

Together Fern and Fill more had examined many
maps for the purpose of deciding on the particular
states to be inspected during the coming tour. The
great south-west seemed to offer the best field for
choosing. The Indian lands, just coming into mar
ket, were not to be ignored. They were located in a
climate that would promote the growth of a large
variety of crops, therefore were especially desirable.
Much time was spent by them in going over these
important questions very carefully. Fennimore
Fenwick, from time to time, had given his opinion
on many doubtful points. Now everything was set
tled. Tomorrow Fillmore Flagg was to start for
the rich lands of the great west and south-west,
with careful instructions to keep Fern Fenwick in
formed, by frequent letters, of his progress and
whereabouts. Whenever a particular plot of ground
was selected, Fern was to send him a certified check
for its purchase. This plan was to be followed until
all of the desired plots had been secured. The pre
paratory work on the model farm was then to be
commenced.

On the eve of his departure, Fillmore Flagg in re
viewing these arrangements, began to percieve that
many days must pass before he could hope to see
Fern Fenwick again. The intensity of his love for
her urged an immediate declaration, that he might
know his fate before commencing his long journey ;

92 SOLARIS FARM.

on the other hand, prudence counselled a more pa
tient waiting and wooing as the only safe and honor
able course for him to pursue, as to declare his love
at this time would be, under all the circumstances
which had made him a guest at the cottage, taking
an unfair advantage of the confidence and hospitality
of his charming hostess, who had become so inex
pressibly dear to him. Yes, he would take up the
burden of his work, full of confidence in the wisdom
and watchfulness of his guiding star. Hope whis
pered in his heart : "Pern's destiny is so closely in
terwoven with thine own, that no fear of the future
need disturb thee; in peace and contentment await
thou the fulfillment of thy brightest hopes. "

Meanwhile, in the heart of Fern Fenwick, the im
pression left by the events of the week, were marked
and apparent even to herself. A change in her re
gard for Fillmore Flagg was manifest. He was so
capable, so loyal to her, and to her interests ; and
withal so intensely in love with her, that in turn her
admiration for him grew apace — in fact she did not
attempt to hold it in check. She adored an honest
frankness as much as she despised smooth deceit.
She knew that Fillmore Flagg was the soul of honor
and that she could trust him under all circumstances,
else her father would not have chosen him to be her
worthy and trusted assistant in the work. In manly
beauty he was very near to her ideal ; in nobleness
of heart, intellectual development and training, he
was her equal : therefore it was but natural for her
to bestow glances of encouragement on a lover so at
tractive, so cultured, so unselfish and so ardent.
Perhaps she had met her fate ! However, before
dismissing the subject, she decided at the first op
portunity to call the attention of her father and

SOLARIS FARM. 93

mother to the matter and ask their advice, which
would govern her course in the future. She felt
that whatever the advice might be, in any event, it
would not mar or blight her true happiness.

CHAPTER XVII.

SOLARIS FARM.

ONE year from the time Fillmore Flagg left Fairy
Pern Cottage on his trip to the west, we find him at
"Solaris Farm," the title chosen for the model or
experimental co-operative farm. The location was
Dearly midway, on one of the through lines of rail
way which connect St. Louis, the great central city
of the Mississippi valley, with the gulf and inland
cities of the mammoth state of Texas.

The land was beautifully located, the soil was rich
and easy to cultivate. The entire tract was well
watered by a fine, clear, swift flowing stream. In
extent, the farm comprised ten sections, laying com
pactly together, and making in all, 6,400 acres of
Choice land. Nine of the sections formed a perfect
square, each of the four sides being three miles in
length. The tenth section joined the west line of
the south-west section in the square, which made
the south line of the farm four miles in length The
railroad passed through the farm near the north line
of the southern tier of sections, touching on the way
an ideal site for the farm village. About four thous
and acres of the land was broad, rolling prairie, com
bined with a large proportion of unusually rich river

94 SOLARIS FARM.

bottom, both well adapted to the growth of a great
variety of crops. The remainder of the farm pre
sented a rough, broken surface, with a soil not so
rich, sometimes quite poor and gravelly, but being
protected by a great bend in the river, was well cov
ered by a valuable growth of timber. The surface
of the roughest ground covered large deposits of
lead, zinc, mica and several varieties of choice clay.
Numerous bold bluffs contained fine quarries of ex
cellent stone for building purposes, also for an abun
dant supply of lime and cement. A number of the
ridges offered unlimited quantities of gravel and
sand. Here and there several rich veins of a very
good quality of bituminous coal cropped out.

In making his preliminary examination, the quick
eye of Pillmore Flagg soon discovered that this
eighteen-hundred-acre tract, of what the owners
considered their poorest lands, marred and disfig
ured by a tangle of undergrowth, a confusion of
unsightly rocks, gullies and bluffs ; was in reality a
treasure, a vast store of choice material for coming
needs. When the ten sections, including this bro
ken tract, were offered for the lump sum of thirty
two thousand dollars, Fillmore Flagg quickly closed
the bargain. He was confident that at last, after
many weeks of patient searching, a most desirable
site for the initial farm had been secured, at the low
average price of five dollars per acre. No wonder
he was elated and proud of his achievement ! The
remaining lands of the township were sparsely set
tled by about fifty families, generally occupying
large ranches.

Acting on Fern Fenwick's advice, as soon as the
site of the model farm was chosen, Fillmore Flagg
prepared an advertisement for publication in three

SOLARIS FARM. 95

; of the leading spiritual papers, setting forth the
I purposes of the organization, together with the re-
j quirements necessary for membership. The appli
cations which soon followed were so numerous that
at the end of the first three months he had been able
to complete a very choice selection for the colony.
Before the end of the next three months, he had
.placed them on the farm, prepared for active work.
In the accomplishment of this remarkable feat in
so short a time, he had the able assistance of his
trusted friends, George and Gertrude Gerrish, who
were, from the beginning, most thoroughly in sym
pathy with him and eager to join him in the work.
Fillmore Flagg had known them from childhood and
had learned to appreciate them as progressive peo
ple of the most pronounced type, who were honest,
courageous, and gifted to a high degree with the
power to win the love and confidence of all who
knew them.

George and Gertrude Gerrish were born and reared
on Nebraska farms, near the home of Fillmore Flagg.
George was thirty-five ; Gertrude, younger by three
years. They had been married fifteen years and
were noted as a handsome couple, being large, tall,
straight and finely formed, with strong, even tem
peraments. Their only son, Gilbert, was a delicate
lad, in his fourteenth year, handsome, spirituelle and
intellectual to a remarkable degree. He was a real
genius, passionately fond of books, art and music;
already an accomplished player on both the piano
and violin. Yet withal, he was very reticent, sensi
tive and shy, on account of his small size and de
formed body, the result of spinal trouble cav.eed by a
fall while an infant.
The Gerrish family, for the eight years previous,

96 • SOLARIS FARM.

had resided in St. Louis, where George and Gertrude
were employed as teachers. When Fillmore Flagg
made them a visit while on his way west from New-
burgh, he was both surprised and delighted tD find
them spiritualists.

They at once became interested in his mission, and
his plans for the establishment of a model co-opera
tive farm. At his urgent request, they promised to
move at once to the farm, whenever located, in order
to be prepared to receive the colonists property as
soon as they should commence to assemble. This
promise Fillmore Flagg considered a most extraordi
nary piece of good fortune, and so it proved.

As a result of this wisely planned co-operative
work, at the end of the first six months, a carefully
selected, most effic;ent colony, of five hundred adults
and one hundred and fifty children, had been assem
bled and organized ; the business of the incorpora
tion completed ; the stock all taken ; the officers cho
sen and a general plan of the work prepared.

George Gerrish was chosen as President of the
Solaris Farm Company, Fillmore Flagg was made
trustee and general manager. The members of the
company were young and strong, accustomed to farm
labor, full of enthusiasm for pushing forward the
work. They were all wide awake and progressive,
quick to perceive and appreciate the importance and
advantage of applying co-operative thought and co
operative work to systematic farming on a large
soale. They were thoroughly in earnest and equally
determined to make tho model farm a complete suc
cess. With such an army of vigorous, intelligent
workL. o, it was easy to accomplish before the close
of the first year, the magical changes which had
been --ffectocl at Jl ^ farm.

SOLARIS FARM. 97

The land had all been surveyed, examined and tes
ted ; the farm carefully subdivided and platted, with
a view to keeping a complete record, which should
include a debit and credit account with each subdi
vision. The size and boundaries of these tracts
were determined with reference to the capacity of
the soil to best produce certain kinds or crops of
grains, grasses, vegetables, vines, berries, fruits or
trees. The crests of ridges, and all rough, gravelly
lands, were set apart for timber, fruit and vineyard
culture ; the separate areas to be devoted to these
three classes were carefully calculated, described
and marked on the plat. The number of roads re
quired to connect the various fields and subdivisions
with the village, were laid out and made passable by
building the necessary bridges.

The site selected for the village was quite near to
the railroad, and large enough to give abundant
space for future factories, shops, lawns and orna
mental pleasure grounds. The whole was graded,
well drained and artistically laid out around the four
sides of a spacious central square. A large, well
constructed freight and passenger station, of Solaris
brick, was built and established at the most conven
ient point on the railroad. In this building were the
post office, express office and telegraph office, all in
excellent business form and perfect working order.

The manufacture of brick had been one of the first
industries developed at the farm. An inexhau stable
supply of most excellent clay had been discovered
just at the edge of the village site, and speedily con
nected with it by a short tramway. From this clay
the product of Solaris brick proved in every way
desirable. In form, color, size and design, they
were much superior to ordinary brick. With them,

98 SOLARIS FARM.

the builder could, in one half the time, with less ce
ment, construct walls that were thick, solid and dur
able, yet presenting beautiful surfaces both inside
and outside. These walls would remain for many
years in perfect sanitary condition, kept free from
dampness by the dry air circulation, due to the con
structive design of the brick. The very fine appear
ance of the new railroad station, so advertised the
beauty and excellence of Solaris brick, that orders
from abroad soon came pouring in. To fill these or
ders without delaying the work on the village build
ings, it became necessary to double the size of the
brick-making plant ; also to increase the number of
workers. The unexpected development of such a
large and profitable allied industry, at almost the
first stage of the preparatory work at the farm, so
encouraged Fillmore Flagg and his co-workers, so
stimulated and quickened the spirit of inventive
genius, that thereafter the efficiency and capacity of
the machinery kept pace with the steadily increas
ing demand for brick, that too without further add
ing to the working force or to the size of the plant.
A deeper excavation of the clay beds brought to
light a much finer class of clays, which proved so
excellent for the purposes of manufacturing general
pottery, terra cotta ware, drain tiles and sewer pipe,
that in connection with the brick works, a factory
for making that kind of material was at once put in
operation. The tramway was extended a half mile
further from the village to reach the newly-opened
stone quarries and coal mines, passing on the way
large deposits of sand and gravel. By means of the
tramway, an abundant supply of all kinds of the nec
essary materials could be placed on the building site
very quickly. The best of stone for the foundations,

SOLARIS FARM. 99

quantities of brick, lime, sand and cement were at
hand, waiting for the builder. All this made pos
sible the swift construction of superior buildings,
equipped with all of the modern improvements, in
cluding artistic ornamentation.

As a result, before the expiration of the first six
months after the arrival of the co-operators, the fol
lowing buildings had been completed and were ready
for use : On the south side of the public square,
fronting north ; one large mill for grinding flour and
feed ; one extensive building, large enough to be oc
cupied as a saw mill and planing mill, machine, car
penter, repair and blacksmith shop all combined.
On the north side of the square, fronting south ; one
large three story and basement block of apartment
houses, sufficiently capacious to accommodate eight
hundred people. The three upper stories were high
enough to afford twelve-foot ceilings between the
floors. The rooms were large, well lighted, well
ventilated, and so arranged on each floor as to offer
to every family a parlor, sitting room, dining room,
two bed rooms, one bath room, and a kitchen. The
basement of the entire block was furnished and fit
ted to be used as a restaurant, with the necessary
dining rooms, kitchens, furnace rooms, store rooms
and cellars. The light frame dwellings, located on
one of the rear streets, which had given a temporary
shelter to the people until the completion of the
apartment house, were now utilized as work rooms,
seed rooms, assorting rooms, store rooms, and for
dairy and apiary purposes. On the west side of the
square, fronting east, just across the corner from the
apartment house, the well-appointed hall of Educa
tion and Amusement was erected. It was three sto
ries high, seventy five feet wide, and one hundred

100 SOLARIS FARM.

and fifty feet long. The upper story was entirely
devoted to the library, assembly and amusement
hall, with its large stage, numerous offices and ante
rooms. The lower rooms were arranged to be used
for the business offices of the farm, the spacious
school rooms for its one hundred and fiity children,
the printing office and editorial rooms of the press
club, and the eleven additional club rooms reserved
for. the use of the adults. On the same side of the
square, fronting eastward and separated from the
hall of amusement and education by one hundred
feet of space, was the Solaris company store ; four
stories high, two hundred feet wide, two hundred
feet long, built around three sides of a beautifully
arranged rose and flower garden. The two lower
stories were used to display a large stock of general
merchandise, while the upper stories were occu
pied by the force engaged in the manufacture of gen
eral clothing, underwear, and in tailoring and dress
making. All of these fine structures were built of
Solaris brick, with cut stone foundations ; the orna
mental brick used in the fronts were especially de
signed for the purpose and proved wonderfully effec
tive. In every particular the buildings were a credit
to the company, being beautifully planned, skillfully
constructed, and located with due regard for archi
tectural effect. Prom the preparation of the stone,
the making of the brick, lime and mortar, to the final
completion of the buildings, including the making
and laying of the sewer pipes, nineteen-twentieths
of the total cost was represented by the labor of the
co-operators. Of course they were led and taught
by a few skilled workmen, directed by Fillmore
Flagg, who had prepared the plans. The remark
able success achieved, proved a good lesson in the

SOLARIS FARM. 101

economics of co-operation, of the utmost significance
and value; a lesson which filled the hearts of the
members of the company with pride and joy, rivited
and clinched their devotion to the model farm and
opened their eyes to the possibilities of the future.

Having finished this first series of buildings for
immediate use, attention was given to the matter of
improving the appearance of the public square. In
the center of the broad, smooth green, stood the tall,
straight flag-pole ; from its top floated the stars and
stripes. Eastward from the foot of the flag-staff,
and slightly raised above the grassy surface of the
smoothly shaven lawn, was spread a living flag in
true colors, red, white and blue. This flag was of
magnificent proportions, twenty-five feet in width by
fifty feet in length, and presented such an effective
appearance that it soon became the pride and delight
of the farm children, an object of never failing in
terest, a beautiful living motto which expressed
their appreciation of patriotism.

While the building operations were being pushed
forward, a carefully selected force of workers had
been equally busy in making numerous agricultural
improvements. Two thousand acres of virgin soil
had been broken up and prepared for planting. One
hundred acres of the best of this newly upturned
soil, so clean and free from weeds, had been planted
with a well selected series of vegetables, capable of
producing a remunerative crop of assorted garden
seeds. The series included all of the best known va
rieties with the addition of several new ones. As a
result of skillful culture and favorable conditions, a
great many tons of choice seeds had been grown,
gathered and prepared for market. Large propaga
ting gardens had been fitted and seeded with refer-

102 SOLARIS FARM.

ence to the future demands of fruit and forestry cul
ture. An abundant supply of all kinds of vegetables
for farm use had been grown and stored. Goodly
crops of corn, oats and potatoes, grown and har
vested. Plenty of hay cut, cured and housed. Pas
tures, roomy enough to accommodate large herds of
horses and cattle, securely enclosed, supplied with
water and the proper shelter. Small herds of fine
cattle and horses secured and well provided for.
These herds were selected chiefly for breeding pur
poses, while a sufficient number of mules were pur
chased for the needs of the farm work. The bees in
the well stocked apiary had already gathered a fine
supply of honey from the wild flowers of the sur
rounding prairies. The extensive yards and build
ings prepared for poultry farming on an unusually
large scale, were so well stocked and in such fine
condition as to promise large profits at an early day.

In reviewing the work at the close of the first
year, which included many important items not yet
enumerated, the general results were so satisfactory
that the officers and members of the Solaris Farm
Company were very much encouraged. Owing to
sales of seeds and brick in such considerable quanti
ties, together with the manufacture at the farm of
almost every kind of building material, the sum ad
vanced by Fern Fenwick, the patroness, for farm
buildings and equipment was less than one-half the
amount named in Fillmore Flagg's estimate. The
amount required for the coming year would be very
much less.

The general plan provided for and embraced the
supplementing of agricultural work by a series of
allied manufactures, such as naturally grew out of
the needs of the farm : carpentering, blacksmithing,

SOLARIS FARM. 103

machine work and repairing, furniture making, turn
ing, polishing, painting, staining and general wood
working and finishing, pattern making, broom and
brush making, a factory for spinning rope and cor
dage, basket and all kinds of osier weaving, brick
making, pottery and all kinds of clay or porcelain
work ; together with many other things that would
suggest themselves as time passed and the capacity
of the farm was increased by the invention of better
machinery and superior methods.

The application of inventive genius on the part of
the co-operators to operations at the brick works
and pottery, had already proved equal to the de
mands of any emergency which might arise. The
great variety of these added employments would af
ford a pleasant change from the monotony and rou
tine of ordinary farm work. They could be pursued
sometimes for weeks together, when legitimate farm
work would be out of season, in this way so greatly
increasing the products and profits of the farm, that
the bonanza farm of the capitalist, which depended
on wheat growing alone for profits, could no longer
successfully compete.

After much discussion by the board of manage
ment and the officers of the company, it was decided
with the unanimous consent of the membership, that
eight hours should be considered a days work — six
hours for the farm work, with two hours additional
to be devoted to such of the manufacturing works as
the member might choose. This course proved en
tirely satisfactory ; it soon gave to the farm an able
corps of skilled workmen, at the same time augment
ing the collective power of the membership to do
more effective co-operative thinking for the advance
ment of the best interests and general welfare of all.

104 SOLARIS FARM.

In the matter of wages, a uniform price of three
dollars per day was fixed for each member of the
company ; this amount was diminished by deducting
ten per cent for the sinking fund, five per cent for
the general service fund, and five cents daily from
each member for the special fund. The special fund
was for the purposes of education and amusement.
After subtracting these deductions, two dollars and
fifty cents were left as the net per diem pay of each
one. The assessments provided the goodly sum of
$54,000 00 annually for the sinking fund, $27,000 00
for the general service fund, and $9,000 00 for the
special fund.

The Solaris Farm company was incorporated for
ninety-nine years, with a provision for re-incorpora
tion at the expiration of that period. This provision
practically made the company a perpetual institu
tion. The stock of the company was capitalized at
$250,000 00, and divided into one thousand shares,
with a par value of $250 00 each. The number of
share holders or subscribers was limited to five hun
dred adults, about two hundred and fifty couples or
families; at the end of five years, two shares of stock
were issued to each subscriber, male or female, mar
ried or single. This stock, however, could not be
issued until $45,000 00 had been paid into the sink
ing fund. With the issue of the stock, the purchase
price of the farm should be paid from the sinking
fund to Fillmore Flagg, the trustee, who would then
deed the farm to the corporation. Thereafter the
company was to maintain a sinking fund amply suf
ficient to provide such additional farms as the chil
dren of its members might need.

In accordance with his instructions from Fenni-
more Penwick, the money received in this way by

SOLARIS FARM. 105

Fillmore Flagg, was to be held by him as a trust
for the purchase of other farms. It was further
provided that the Solaris Farm company retained
the sole right to purchase all stock which might be
offered for sale.

The general service fund was to be used in defray
ing the expense of stocking, equipping and improv
ing the farm.

It was also determined that settlements made with
members, who from any cause might wish to leave
the company, should be made on a basis of two dol
lars and fifty cents per day for the time they had
been co-operators, with the return of whatever capi
tal they might have invested plus interest at three
per cent per annum; all stock subscribed for to re
turn to the company's treasury.

The general plan further provided for the erec
tion of separate cottages, with small gardens adjoin
ing, for the use and occupancy of such families as
might desire them. The apartment house, now com
pleted, had many of its suites of rooms arranged for
independent housekeeping, but so far, the members
of the company preferred to take their meals at the
company restaurant, paying for them the ordinary
prices. They also preferred to patronize the laun
dry, general clothing, tailoring and dress-making de
partments which were connected with the company
store. To prevent any conflict with the commercial
interests of the outside world, the restaurant and
the company store sold food and goods at the ruling
market prices for first-class articles, realizing that it
was plainly the policy of the company to keep only
the best of everything for sale — the generous profits
from all sales to go as a general contribution from
the entire membership to the insurance fund for the

106 SOLARIS FARM.

helpless and the aged. As liberal wages afforded
ample means, large purchases were encouraged, and
all tendency toward a miserly hoarding was discour
aged. It was marked that all the members were
quick to appreciate the fact that the more liberal-
their purchases, the more generously they swelled
the fund that was set apart to provide for the needs
and happiness of declining years. With each pass
ing month it was observed that this particular feat
ure of insurance continued to grow in popular favor.

To enable the company to dispense with a great
deal of expensive bookkeeping, to do business with
a small amount of actual cash, and at the same time
add another check against the disposition to hoard
money ; the payment of wages to the members of the
company was made in Solaris scrip, good at its face
value for all purchases made from the company.
Whenever cash was needed by any of the members,
an order on the treasurer drawn by the president
and approved by the general manager, could easily
be obtained for reasonable amounts. On presenta
tion of the order, U. S. legal tenders to the amount
specified, would be exchanged for the scrip, dollar
for dollar ; the treasurer cancelling this scrip by
stamping across its face the date of the exchange
and the name of the member, retaining the cancelled
scrip as his voucher for the disbursement of the
money. When scrip was exchanged at the store for
goods, it was cancelled in the same way by the man
ager of the store. The plan seemed to work with
out friction and gave general satisfaction.

At the beginning of each month an executive com
mittee, composed of three men and three women,
was chosen by the members of the company. This
committee, with the general manager as chairman,

SOLARIS FARM. 107

made an order of work for each day and assigned
the members to the different kinds of work named
in the order. These assignments were always ac
cepted cheerfully. The co-operators without excep
tion and without murmur worked steadily and with
zeal for one common result. They were keenly alive
to both the importance and the advantages of this
new kind of co-operative work, which gave them so
many hours of leisure for rest and recreation. With
the experience of each passing month, they realized
more than ever before that sixteen hours out of the
twenty-four so devoted, soon stimulated and rein
forced the vital energies to such an extent that ac
tive labor seemed really desirable, As a matter of
fact, each day they began to look forward eagerly to
the six hours of farm work and the two hours addi
tional of skilled labor, as opportunities which gave
them refreshing and delightful exercise. Exercise
that was necessary to promote health and happiness
— exercise which left them with an added relish and
brighter mental conditions for the enjoyment of the
hours of study and amusement that were to follow.
Here again, the wisdom of nature's law of compen
sation was demonstrated. A grave question of the
utmost importance to the progress of mankind was
for them forever settled. The discovery had dawned
on the minds of these people that labor, no longer a
curse, was in reality nature's richest blessing !

Among the more important improvements on the
farm which Fiilmore Flagg had carefully planned,
was the necessary preparatory work on the large
propagating gardens, located near the river, not far
from the village. In connection with the construc
tion of the village water works, at the time of the
grading and sewering of the village grounds, these

108 SOLARIS FARM.

gardens were furnished with a complete system of
irrigating pipes. These, together with the thous
ands of pots required at a later period, were made in
the pottery at the brick works — another product of
farm labor. With such a complete control of the
necessary moisture, the sprouting process in the
long seed beds proved unusually succssful. These
beds, which covered several acres of very rich soil,
were thickly planted with all kinds of fruit and tree-
bearing seeds ; together with grape cuttings, mul
berries for the silkworm culture, quinces, currants,
tea plants, a great variety of berries, a fine selec
tion of ornamental shrubbery, dwarf fruit trees,
roses, and many other plants besides. The young
plants soon reached a stage of growth where pot
ting became necessary in order to make them strong,
well grown, independent young shoots, ready at any
time to be transplanted without injury into nursery
rows, the vineyard or the berry plots.

To pot the contents of these beds required the la
bor of many hands, consequently the task furnished
a pleasant, congenial employment for a major part
of the female co-operaters. A large, well floored,
wide roofed shed was constructed just at the edge of
the gardens nearest the village. It was wide enough
to accommodate two rows of roomy tables, and of a
length sufficient for fifty tables in each row. Ad
joining the end of the potting shed towards the vil
lage, was the storehouse, containing quantities of
prepared soil and a large supply of assorted pots.
A double track system of narrow tramways passed
between the rows of tables, on its way from the
storehouse to the different seed beds in all parts
of the garden. On this tramway the little cars
came from the storehouse to the tables, laden with

SOLARIS FARM. 109

supplies of pots and prepared soil ; these they ex
changed for trays of potted plants to be returned to
the seed beds. In returning from the gardens on
the other track, they brought cargoes of shallow
trays filled with little plantlets just lifted from the
seed beds. This cargo-bearing process, on the part
of the tram cars, continued throughout the day as
often as required, mak-ng light 'work for all con
cerned. To witness the work under the shed as it
goes bravely on is a pleasing sight. Let us pause
a moment to enjoy it.

At each table are two operators, who may sit or
stand while they work. Protected by strong gloves,
the deft fingers swiftly fly — the long, double lines of
maidens and matrons are as merry as crickets ! The
buzz of musical chatter, song and story, inspires the
work, fitting time with swift pinions and transform
ing such toil into six hours of fun and frolic !

This class of work proved so charming that a ma
jority of the women preferred it to employment in
the apiary, dairy, nursery, school, office, restaurant,
or any department of the company store.

With this glimpse of the general development of
Solaris Farm, its improvements and its people, dur
ing the first year, we discover that Fillmore Flagg
has been a very busy man ; that his skill, inventive
genius, and executive ability have been tried se
verely ; that he has been able to respond to the de
mands of every occasion. However, such was his
confidence in the wisdom of Fern Fenwick, that
when he found himself puzzled or in doubt, he relied
largely on her advice to suggest some proper solu
tion for each vexing question. He had, from the be
ginning, furnished her with a complete history of
every stage of the development of the farm, along

110 SOLARIS FARM.

with his weekly reports. At the close of each one
he gave a list of topics on which her opinions were
solicited ; the suggestions in her replies led to such
a speedy unraveling of the tangled situations and
troublesome questions, that Fillmore Flagg was im
pressed more than ever, with her excellent judgment
and the brilliancy of her genius. His admiration
grew ; his love grew faster ! In his personal letters,
transmitting the weekly reports, the expression of
these sentiments of admiration and adoration con
tinued to grow in force and fervor until he finally
gained courage to request permission to address her
as a lover: a lover whose happiness would be largely
increased by every effort he might make to put in
words the thoughts born of his devotion to her — the
one adorable woman in the world, for him.

In her reply, Fern Fenwick frankly stated that
she was inclined to consider his request with some
degree of favor. That she had sought advice from
her parents. That in response her father, Fenni-
more Fenwick, had expressed himself as convinced
of the integrity, honesty, and purity of Fillmore's
love for her ; but he could not consent to an engage
ment binding his daughter to marriage, until the un
qualified success of the model farm, at the end of
the first five years, had demonstrated the worthiness
of Fillmore Flagg. After that event, if both con
tinued to desire a marriage engagement, his consent
might be considered as assured. Her mother, she
said, had repeated and emphasized her father's ad
vice : this advice she felt in duty bound to heed and
respect. Therefore, on the conditions named, she
was willing to accept him as a lover, with the dis
tinct understanding however, that he must not claim
her hand in marriage until after the achievement of

SOLARIS FARM. Ill

the complete success of Solaris Farm.

In the postscript at the close of her letter, Fern
adroitly, though perhaps innocently, lighted the
torch of hope in the heart of Fillmore Flagg by
archly expressing herself as follows: "Henceforth
my personal interest in the progress and final suc
cess of the model farm will, no doubt, fully equal
your own."

This little postscript was a never failing source of
comfort and encouragement to Fillmore Flagg. He
read it and re-read it again and again : in his ecstacy
he caught himself kissing it a dozen times the first
week after it reached him. With each reading his
hitherto dormant love nature gathered force and in
tensity. In the throbbing tide of joyful emotions,
he was suffused with a strange new happiness. He
blushed like a girl as the certainty came home to his
heart that at last his love for this beautiful woman
was returned. It may be marked as noteworthy that
this important letter cam^ to Fillmore Flagg just
eight months after his parting with Fern Fenwick
at her cottage home on the Hudson. While medita
ting and luxuriating under the spell of the happy
significance of this event, as affecting his future life,
he thanked his angel friends for so successfully
speeding his wooing. With this assurance he was
confident that at last his star of destiny was domi
nant in the sky of love. Calmly serene, he could
now await the approach of whatever trials in life
the future might have in store for him. Nothing
could shake him from this fortress of love ! Noth
ing could intervene to separate his life from the life
of his beloved Fern ! With a sigh of contentment,
he prepared to devote himself more ambitiously and
more industriously than ever before, to the develop-

112 SOLARIS FARM.

merit of Solaris Farm. He wooed every inventive
thought ; he planned night and day to overcome all
obstacles that presented themselves. In his letters
to Fern Fenwick, rejoicing in a freedom to express
himself without restraint on the limitless theme of
his great love for her, he filled page after page with
eloquent adoration of his heart's chosen one — his
highest ideal of the glorious perfection of woman
hood. The effect on Fillmore Flagg of this fervent,
all-absorbing love, was most excellent ; it broadened
and purified his life, eliminating from it all the dross
of selfishness. He took a new interest in the lives
of every married couple and every pair of lovers on
the farm. By persevering effort, tact and skill, he
completely won their confidence. He shared their
hopes, plans, joys, sorrows, loves and crosses. In
all this he never once failed to increase their love
for him and their devotion to the farm.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CLUB LIFE AT SOLARIS.

IN THE work of building up in the minds of the
co-operators, an abiding faith in Solaris Farm and
its future success, Fillmore Flagg had the able sup
port of George and Gertrude Gerrish. They had
proved themselves the right people in the right
place ! In the schools and nursery Gertrude had
become invaluable. Her genial temperament, her
fondness for children, the kindly influence of her
great mother-heart, with its never failing store of
sympathy, patience, tact and skill, all attested that

SOLARIS FARM. 113

she was a natural teacher whose presence among the
children was a perpetual benefaction, while the won-
'derful store of her personal magnetism brought her
the love, respect and obedience of both the old and
the young. They instinctively felt her power to
make them wiser, better and happier. This was a
well merited tribute of praise, worth a king's ran
som in gold !

George Gerr-sh soon became very popular on ac
count of the extraordinary ability he displayed in
organizing the members of the farm company into
the numerous clubs devised to promote the interests
of education, science and amusement. The descrip
tion which follows will serve to illustrate his skill as
an organizer in carrying out the general plan pre
pared by Fillmore Flagg. In addition they will give
a clear idea of the scope and variety of the talent
developed, together with a proper conception of the
splendid equipment of the farm for the social, edu
cational, ethical and scientific development of its
people.

First in order- came the Press Club. To it was as
signed the duty of editing and publishing the " SO
LARIS SENTINEL," a weekly paper devoted to the
interests of the farm. It was filled with topics of
general interest to the community ; themes, essays,
poems, personals and social notices contributed by
the club members, suggestions and ideas leading to
better methods for the care and culture of the farm
stock and crops, also as to preparing, the same for
market. The range of topics included hints regard
ing any of the allied manufacturing industries which
were carried forward by the farm company. In ad
dition the paper gave full weekly reports from the
officers of the different clubs. The literary budget

114 SOLARIS FARM.

for each week was completed by selections from the
general contribution box, a very large one, which
was fastened to the outer door of the rooms of the
club. Into this box every man, woman and child
was invited to drop such written scraps, signed or
unsigned, brief or lengthy, as they might be moved
to offer for publication. The selections from this
box were eagerly read. They often proved surpris
ingly brilliant, novel or suggestive, frequently dis
closing rare literary merit, — altogether constituting
the most popular department of the paper. The ed
itorials were carefully prepared and well written.
They were usually along lines of co-operative work ;
its desirability as an encouragement to unselfishness,
and also to show how the work might best improve
social, industrial and political conditions. The vol
ume and excellence of the reading matter thus pro
duced, was marked by general comment as a matter
of astonishment. The unstinted praise which it
elicited reflected much credit on the club : therefore
to be chosen a member was a coveted honor which
was reserved for the meritorious faw.

The Dancing Club, in point of popularity, was the
most successful of all, and deservedly so. Its mem
bership embraced the entire colony, both old and
young who, one and all, seemed to enter into the
spirit of the movement with a zealous abandon, a
united joyousness, most delightful to behold. The
social ties which bound them together, grew and
strengthened with the recurrence of each meeting.
On two afternoons of each week, the club teachers
gave two-hour lessons or drills to all who might de
sire them. On three evenings of each week, in the
large hall of education and amusement, two and one-
half hours were devoted to dancing, in which all the

SOLARIS FARM. 115

members took part. These evening dances proved
so fascinating that as a rule very few members were
ever noted as being absent. An attack of illness
which prevented the attendance of a member, must
be desperate indeed. In the matter of general im
provement the results were most excellent. To be
stow perfect deportment, dignified control of the
body and limbs, with an easy, graceful movement on
all occasions, there is nothing like dancing. To
eliminate the depressing effects of grief, mental or
business cares, harassing trials of temper, physical
exhaustion, or disturbed spiritual equilibrium, dan
cing is a remedy of marvelous potency. For the key
to the reason why this is true, we are indebted to the
wonderful discoveries in psychology and psychurgy
made by that able scientist, renowned thinker and
brilliant writer, Professor Elmer Gates. The fol
lowing is a very brief statement of his reasons as to
how and why the emotions of the individual affect
the vital forces of life :

"The human body is a collection of co-operative
cells, more or less intelligent and responsive, there
fore an important part of the thinking machine which
is acted upon by the superior mind of the brain. The
superior mind is in turn reacted upon by the auto
matic metabolism set up in the cells. Automatic
metabolism of the cell, is its ability to carry on
within itself the various processes of life that may
be necessary to best fit it for the performance of
special functions, as a particular part of the co-op
erative body. Violent emotions of anger, hate, de
spair and grief, are katabolic, poisonous and harm
ful ; they tear down and destroy life. The poisonous
deposits left in the cells by these emotions are called
'katastates.' Laughter and merriment, with all the
emotions of pleasure, adoration, worship, love, af
fection, hope, beauty, etc., are 'anabolic,' or life-pre
serving. The vital, health-giving deposits left in

116 SOLARIS FARM.

the cells by these emotions are called 'anastates.'
Nature accomplishes her perfect work by beautiful
methods. The cells are fed and sustained by the cir
culation of the blood; they are reached from the
smaller branching arteries by a network of minute,
thread-like channels, sometimes called 'arterioles.'
These arterioles are accompanied by the equally fine
wires of the nervous system, closely connected with
the brain centers. These wires are electrified by the
emotions ; they expand the arterioles, and the cells
are flooded with an unusual supply of blood; thus
they are correspondingly vitalized or poisoned, ac
cording to the kind of the dominant emotion, its du
ration and its intensity."

From the foregoing we readily perceive that the
joyful emotions stirred by that poetical trinity, the
melody, the rythm and motion of dancing, arouses
the circulation so potently that every cell in the body
tingles with its superabundance of vitality ; both the
heart and the brain respond to the invigorating tide,
while its precious freight of anastates is vivifying
and thrilling every cell. These happifying emotions
soon become permanently dominant, the depressing
emotions grow weaker, fade away and disappear.
The individual is vitalized and rejuvenated ! We be
gin to understand that when properly indulged in,
dancing is the most fascinating, healthful and help
ful of all the amusements. The Solaris Farm peo
ple were both fascinated and benefited by the danc
ing exercises so generously provided by the club;
the growing interest and enthusiasm aroused was a
matter of astonishment even to themselves. With
the continuation of the club dances, the intensity of
the enjoyment and the capacity for it, seemed to in
crease ; this, together with the pleasing memories of
bygone dances, seemed to bind them yet more closely
to the destinies of Solaris Farm. Strong, straight,

SOLARIS FARM. 117

lithe figures, happy faces, and eyes shining with the
fires of perfect health, gave testimony to the efficacy
of music and motion as applied to physical develop
ment. With grateful hearts, these happy people re
alized that this pure font of happiness came to them
as the result of unselfish, harmonious co-operation.
The effect on Gilbert Gerrish of this universal
spirit of gaiety, was as marked as it was beneficial.
On the raised platform at the head of the dancing
hall, violin in hand, and surrounded by a chosen few
of his friends in the musical club, he seemed to grow
in stature as he breathed in the pervading merri
ment; living a new life, in which his deformity no
longer marred his pleasure. Through the associa
tion of many months he had grown accustomed to
the personal magnetism of the farm people. They
were very proud of him and of his many brilliant
accomplishments. This all-pervading sentiment of
loving pride came to him as a benediction, which his
refined, sensitive nature graciously absorbed. His
shyness and reticence disappeared ; his face glowed
with the flush of happiness ; his beautiful eyes shone
with the fires of a new inspiration. With the hand of
a master he swept the strings with a bow of magic ;
new strains of sweet, thrilling music stirred the
dancers and moved them as one mass to the throb
bing rythm of the intoxicating melody : a melody so
charming that none could resist. Filled with the
power of a new grace and dignity at such moments,
Gilbert Gerrish felt a keen triumph in his ability to
stir the emotional natures of these people whom he
loved ; to inspire them to better deeds and to nobler
lives. They, in turn, recognized and paid willing
homage to a noble soul, a great genius, whose power
to sway and control them was not in the least de-

118 SOLARIS FARM.

fleeted or dimmed by a thought of his deformed body.
Under the mystic spell of divine music, which ap
peals to the highest aspirations of the human heart ;
which calls forth the hidden forces of the soul : they
came in such perfect rapport, with him in his inner
life, that they sensed with soulful eyes the strong,
radiant, symmetrical spirit shining through the de
fects and barriers of a fleshly prison. Thus trans
figured, they saw him, not as he appeared to ordinary
mortals, but as he really was, To these people of
Solaris, this transfiguration was lasting. Very soon
they came to regard him as a talisman of good for
tune — the mascot of the farm.

The Photographic Club, organized by George Ger-
rish soon after the press club with the intention of
making it the nucleus of a future art club, proved a
surprising success at an early stage of its existence.
Very soon after active work began, fifty members
had been enrolled, In discussing with the execu
tive committee a general plan of formation, Fill-
more Flagg remarked that he felt very sure the club
would soon prove a valuable aid to the farm in the
direction of furnishing attractive illustrations of the
farm itself, its products, stock, fruits and flowers, to
be used as advertisements. With this in view, he
made arrangements to provide suitable rooms, large,
well lighted and fitted for the work, in connection
with the construction of an isolated building, made
as nearly fire-proof as possible which, when finished,
was to be devoted mainly to the needs of farm ex
periments in the department of agricultural chemis
try. The completed rooms, with a large lot of cam
eras of various sizes, together with an abundant
supply of photographic material, were placed at the
disposal of the working members of the club. These

SOLARIS FARM. 119

things were rightly considered a necessary part of
an educational outfit. Fillmore Flagg and George
Gerrish both were skillful photographers : with the
wise guidance of two such able teachers, the class
soon began to produce creditable work. After the
expiration of a fixed period, in compliance with an
imperative club rule, each member was obliged to
complete all work from start to finish without assis
tance. This would give scope and opportunity for
expressions of spontaniety and inventive genius in
the individual treatment of the work, which might
tend to the evolution of superior methods. It was
clearly an advantage for the members to be able to
say truthfully that photographs produced under
such requirements were actually the results of their
own individual handiwork ; from focusing the object,
timing the exposure of the plate, on through the
various stages of developing, toning, printing and
mounting, up to the final process of polishing the
finished picture. At the end of each month the
members individually were required to submit twelve
finished photographs to the inspection of a commit
tee of five. This committee was composed of two
ladies and two gentlemen in addition to Fillmore
Flagg, who was the chairman. From this collection
of twelve lot pictures, representing the finest work
of the club, the committee selected four photographs
from each lot, which were chosen to become a part
of the farm exhibit to be displayed on the walls of
the library, hall of education and the school-rooms.
This monthly award for meritorious work acted as a
wonderful stimulus to all the club members, so in
creasing their ambition, industry and artistic inven
tion, that an ever increasing number of delightful
surprises followed each monthly examination. In

120 SOLARIS FARM.

considering the selections as a class, the extent and
variety of the subjects treated covered a wide range.
Among them we may name the general and special
views of the farm, its buildings, fields of grain, corn,
cotton and broom corn; bits of forest, meadow or
brookside landscapes ; specimens of the different
vegetables and garden products; interior views of
the different buildings ; photographs of groups and
of individual members of the company ; pictures of
manufactured articles, tableware, ornamental brick
and tile work, and general pottery ; a great variety
of cabinet work, furniture and willow ware; splen
did photographs of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs
and poultry, also wild animals and birds, singly and
in groups ; views of trees, streams, roads, bridges
and railroad trains ; enlarged photographs of the
insect enemies of farm products ; others of the birds
which prey upon such insects ; artistic views of seed
beds, nursery rows, potting sheds, brick and pottery
works — in fact, pictures of every possible aspect of
the agricultural and manufacturing industries on the
farm. Taken together, this collection presented a
most interesting series for the school rooms, which
proved an object lesson of great value to both pupil
and teacher. The landscapes were especially excel
lent in giving correct ideas of distance values in per
spective drawing.

As time passed, the inventive genius of the club
members began to crop out in the repair shop,
where they not infrequently, and sometimes much to
their surprise, found themselves able to construct
better and cheaper instruments, lenses and attach
ments than they were able to buy. With these im
provements they soon achieved success in color pho
tography. Later this led to making magnificently

SOLARIS FARM. 121

colored slides for stereopticon, kinetescope and bio-
graph exhibits, which soon attracted wide attention
and were in such demand that a large trade resulted.
In this way another exceedingly profitable allied in
dustry was added to the now famous Solaris Farm.

CHAPTER XIX.

FENWICK HALL.

IN THE infancy of this Republic, when its govern
ment was looking about for a permanent home, Gen.
Washington was moved to found and lay out the City
of Washington as its Capitol. With a marvelous
prescience he foresaw the coming needs and future
greatness of the newly-united states. Impressed
with visions of the glorious destiny awaiting his be
loved people, his cherished republic, he wisely con
cluded to provide generously for the growth of a
magnificent city which, a century later, should re
flect credit as the capital of a mighty nation. Care
less of the gibes and sneers of many of his most in
timate friends, Washington, the far-seeing states
man, the invincible soldier, deliberately planned,
platted and surveyed through the wilderness of for
est at that time covering the great triangular basin
lying between the Heights of Columbia and the
waters of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers ; such a
bewildering array of broad streets, wide avenues,
and roomy public parks, as would be ample and suit
able for a brilliant city like Paris, (whose system of
streets he had taken as a model,) at least sufficient
for the wants of a population of a half million. The

122 SOLARIS FARM.

dawn of the twentieth century saw a complete reali
zation of General Washington's brightest hopes, a
verification of his prophetic visions. The wand of
progress had transformed the straggling village of
''magnificent distances," into the most royally beau
tiful city on the continent. A city which had become
the pride and delight of one hundred millions of free
people, who individually felt a personal interest in
the vastness, the beauty and the imposing grandeur
of its magnificent public buildings, which repre
sented the crowning loveliness of architectural de
sign, the highest artistic expression of American
genius ; altogether most perfectly and fittingly adorn
ing the unrivaled capitol city of the most progressive,
powerful, and meritoriously dominant republic on the
face of the planet ! To this Mecca of republics, as
the social and political center of the western hemi
sphere, came the great thinkers, scientists, artists,
orators and statesmen of the world.

Commandingly situated on Columbia Heights, over
looking this surpassingly beautiful city, was Fenwick
Hall, the home of Fern Fenwick. The Hall was a
large quadrangular structure of imposing appear
ance, erected in the center of spacious grounds, most
charmingly laid out, with a rare combination of lawn,
flowers and shrubbery. The material used in its con
struction was Seneca sandstone, in color a rich dark
red, and was trimmed with a pale mottled green
stone, quite as beautiful as serpentine. The effect
of the combination was as harmonious as it was or
namental. The main building was four full stories
in height above the deep basement. It was made
more conspicuous and more picturesque by the four
octagonal towers, one-half of which projected from
each corner of the building. These beautiful towers

SOLARIS FARM. 123

of a uniform size, rose thirty feet above the roof of
the building itself. The basement and towers were
of rough green stone ; the caps and sills of the long,
deep windows, together with the arcade, were of
green stone, beautifully carved and polished. The
arcade, which served both as a covered way, and a
portico over the main entrance, was at once artistic
and unique. It was formed by a picturesque combi
nation of four Moorish arches. These arches were
uniformly twenty-five feet in height and twenty-five
feet in width : the openings of the double arch were
placed in front with the single openings at either
side. By this arrangement the beauty of the entire
structure was greatly enhanced, while a very appro
priate entrance to Fenwick Hall was the result.

At the rear of the grounds, on a line with the cen
ter of the mansion, were the roomy stables. They
were built of rough Seneca sandstone. Like Swiss
cottages, they were made more beautiful by a pro
fusion of richly colored slates which covered the
broad, steep roof and the wide eaves. Between the
mansion and the stables, on the same line, twenty-
five feet distant from the former, was the pretty two
story building, of the same material, devoted to the
kitchen, the heating and the lighting plants. Both
buildings were connected with each other and with
the main building by a long colonnade of harmonious
proportions ; its heavy cornice, narrow, steep roof,
and long double line of slender supporting pillars,
were all of the same red stone. The color effects
offered by the lovely contrast between the velvety
green of the broad, smoothly shaven lawns and the
rich reds of the Seneca stone, were simply delight
ful ! Architecturally considered, the combined effect
of the group of buildings, arcade and colonnade, was

124 SOLARIS FARM.

as artistic as it was excellent. Under the arcade,
just inside the double arch, a broad flight of stone
steps led up to the heavy oak doors opening into the
wide hall on the main floor. This hall was remark
able for its unusual size ; it was thirty feet wide and
of a proportionate height, fifteen feet from floor to
ceiling. In connection with a cross hall twenty feet
in width, it served to divide the entire space on this
floor — one hundred and sixty feet by ninety — into
four very large rooms ; the two parlors, the library,
and the dining room : each one thirty feet in width
by seventy feet in length, with fifteen foot ceilings.
The grand proportions of these magnificent rooms
and stately halls, excited universal admiration ; they
impressed the beholder with a dominant idea of the
spacious luxury which marked the interior appoint
ments of Fenwick Hall. In the center of the main
hall, thirty feet from the front entrance, began the
flight of the grand stairway. The general design of
this stairway was boldly unique. It was in harmony
with the scale of magnificence which characterized
the halls and parlors. In three long flights of twen
ty-five steps each, it rose to the fourth floor. Count
ing the fifteen-foot landings on the second and third
floors, it was practically one structure with a gener
ous breadth of fifteen feet. It was built of the same
material — American mahogany — with casings, corni
ces, banisters and newels of the same pattern and
finish, all highly polished and rich with ornamental
carving. The beautiful color effects of the polished
mahogany, were brought out more vividly by the
pale neutral tint of the heavy velvet carpet, which
covered the stairs and landings. As an illustration
of the great space occupied by this grand stairway
of such ideal proportions, each one of its seventy-

SOLARIS FARM. 125

five broad steps would afford a comfortable seat for
eight persons — a goodly company of six hundred, all
told. This royal trinity of stairways ranked as the
distinguishing feature of the mansion. They gave
it an air of stately elegance, tempered with the glow
and warmth of a generous hospitality.

The halls on the second and third floors were coun
terparts of the main hall in size and style. The hall
on the fourth floor was fifty feet wide by one hun
dred and sixty feet long. It was arranged to be
used as a ball room, or for concerts, lectures, operas
and theatricals. For such events, it would comfor
tably seat an audience of one thousand people. The
roomy stage was furnished with the latest and most
approved appliances ; it was also equipped with a
remarkable series of twelve drop curtains for the
lectures. Number one of the series, was a twelve
by twenty-four foot map of the United States, inclu
ding Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico and other territo
rial possessions. This map was accurately drawn
to a large scale, it was artistically colored and
marked in such a way as to show at a glance the
boundaries of original territory ; the ceded territory,
the date of cession, and from whom acquired; the
dividing lines between states and between counties ;
the location of all cities and towns having a popula
tion of one thousand or over ; the principal state and
county roads, all railroads, lakes, rivers, mountains,
public parks, valuable forests, arid lands, irrigable
lands, mineral deposits ; all noted mines of coal, iron,
gold, silver, copper, etc., together with a great va
riety of important items : all of which proved ex
ceedingly valuable as an added means by which to
illustrate in an interesting and comprehensive way,
lectures on geographical, geological and historical

126 SOLARIS FARM.

subjects, together with lectures on the natural, wealth
and resources of our country ; its manufacturing,
mining, commercial and agricultural interests, with
a great number of kindred topics as well. The sec
ond curtain was uniform in size with the first and
with the entire series. On the same large scale, it
gave a magnificent illustration of the solar system.
The background was a pale bluish gray. The sun
appeared as the central figure, surrounded by the
planets in their orbits, carefully drawn as to com
parative size and position. The whole map was col
ored with exquisite taste in perfect harmony with
the beautiful sky effects of the background. The
skillful work of the map maker proved especially
strong in furnishing a lesson of wholesome humility
for the over-proud denizens of the little planet Earth
who, puffed up with much vanity, have for ages pro
claimed the Earth as the pivotal center of all crea
tion. The third curtain was simply a heavy, plain
white one, perfectly fitted for the display of stereop-
ticon views, and more especially for the moving pan
oramic views of the kinetescope, the vitascope and
the biograph, which have proved such attractive and
entertaining aids to the general lecturer, dealing with
any special subject capable of such profuse illustra
tion. The remaining nine curtains were devoted to
outline maps of the world, and to illustrated object-
lessons in the most important and interesting de
partments of nature.

The side walls of this remarkable hall were wain
scoted in polished hard wood, for a distance of five
feet above the floor : the remaining wall space was
divided into large ornamental panels, with beauti
fully scrolled historical borders. In these panels
were painted, one in each, large maps of the States

SOLARIS FARM. 127

and Territories, which were drawn to uniform scale,
minutely accurate, with every post office, post road,
wagon road or cycle path plainly marked. In addi
tion, at least twice the number of details usual to
large maps showing counties and townships, were
carefully noted. The effect of this unique educa
tional system of ornamentation was as interesting
as it was fascinating. In harmony with this idea,
the entire length of the broad ceiling overhead was
painted a pale blue; it was divided into two large
panels with ornate borders ; each panel was dotted
with stars and planets in such a methodical way as
to form a complete astronomical map of the visible
heavens, both northern and southern hemispheres.
This, with several of the large drop curtains, served
as adjuncts to the well equipped observatory which
was located in one of the large towers at the rear of
the mansion.

On the main floor, on each side of the front hall,
were the two grand parlors, whose exact dimensions
have been stated heretofore. They were carpeted
and furnished with all the art and luxury that skill
could devise, or wealth could procure. Two wide
archways of Moorish style and majestic proportions,
opened from each parlor into the main hall. The
chief adornments which marked these fine parlors
as unapproachably superb, were two immense mir
rors, alike in every way, mounted in heavy frames,
rich with leaf gold. They occupied the entire wall
space at the rear end of these enchanting saloons of
artistic luxury. When distinguished groups of
brave men and beautiful women were assembled
here, the magical effect of these mirrors in repro
ducing the brilliant company as one magnificently
framed panoramic picture, was ever the source of

128 SOLARIS FARM.

perpetual admiration and delight. On such occa
sions the thirty feet of the main hall in front of the
stairway, served as the third or reception parlor.
The grand stairway shone resplendent as one mag
nificent centerpiece of loveliness. Up the long
flight on either side, it was banked by a wealth of
potted flowers, ferns and palms, festooned with
wreaths of lovely smilax. Just in front of this un
rivaled background of beauty, standing alone upon
the movable reception platform, which was merely
a small circular extension of the first step of the
grand stairway, the charming young hostess of Fen-
wick Hall, with the grace and courtesy of a born
princess, gave a greeting of welcome to her delighted
guests, or dismissed them with a gracious smile as
they entered or retired.

The library, in the rear of the parlor at the left
of the main hall and separated from it by the cross
hall, was an exceedingly imposing and attractive
room. With its quiet array of costly appointments,
it seemed to possess some hidden charm. Its ma
hogany shelves were laden with a rare collection of
choice books, elegantly bound, skillfully arranged
and classified. The assortment of scientific books
was a remarkably large one. Marble statues, and
exquisitely painted portraits of a host of famous au
thors and artists, whose works had enriched the lit
erature of the world, fittingly adorned this ideal
realm of drowsy quiet, where both lore and luxury
reigned supreme.

The dining room was uniform in size with the par
lors Liid the library. Its walls and ceiling were
frescoed with groups of grceful figures, which rep
resented the merry sprites of pleasure in carnivals
of feasting, song and dancing. Each figure was a

SOLARIS FARM. 129

carefully studied type of beauty ; each group a per
fect expression of grace and gaiety. Studied singly
or as parts of the entire composition, they were ex
quisite as works of art, charming the attention of
the beholder with a bewildering fascination. The
floor was one vast mosiac of superbly colored tiles.
The heavy mahogany tables and sideboards were
glittering with their costly equipments of shining
silver, sparkling cut glass, and rare, translucent
china. Large oval mirrors in heavy carved frames,
duplicated the lovely adornments of this brilliant
room from a dozen points of vantage. The dazzling
effect of this home of the feast, was intensified by
cascades of light from the two unrivaled chande
liers. They supported a great number of slender
bulbs containing the electric lights, which were ar-
raged in the form of a mass of drooping fern leaves,
rising like a pyramid of soft radiance, into the per
fect shape of two superb fountains. Tiny streams
of short prisms, clear, flashing, crystal, pendant and
vibrating, formed the tip of each fern leaf. This
skillful combination seemed to complete the start
ling illusion of this rare vision of loveliness, until
one could almost hear the musical tinkle of falling
water.

The three halls on the main, second and third
floors, were really galleries of art "par excellence,"
they were so profusely adorned with choice collec
tions of photographs, etchings, water colors, paint
ings and statuary. On entering the main hall, two
very large paintings of extraordinary significance
and rare merit claimed instant admiration. Com
panion pictures, each with a canopy and background
of crossed American flags, from whose voluminous
folds shone the blazing glory of color in the match-

130 SOLARIS FARM.

less beauty of the stars and stripes. In each, picture
under these flags, the dominant spirit of the republic
breathed in the noble figures so exquisitely painted ;
typifying in the one on the right, the Goddess of
Liberty watching over the destiny of the republic.
In the one on the left, Liberty with her torch light
ing the world. So perfectly did the painter's art
portray the "Spirit of 76," that a new tide of pa
triotic devotion to the republic and its glorious flag,
swelled the hearts of all who saw these justly fa
mous pictures.

The well lighted, well ventilated rooms in the
basement were used as store rooms, a suitable num
ber being set apart for the servants, as dressing
rooms, dining room and sitting room. In a large
bay window extension at the rear of the main hall,
a sumptously furnished elevator connected the base
ment with all of the halls, the roof and the towers.
The rooms on the second and third floors were ar
ranged in suites of three, reception, sleeping and
bath. In size, fittings and furnishings, they were
models of comfort and luxury.

The four octagonal tower rooms were uniformly
twenty-five feet in diameter, with lofty dome ceil
ings. The right front tower was occupied by Fern
Fenwick as her private study and work room. It
was fitted and furnished much the same as the li
brary. The left front tower was arranged as a
seance room for spiritual manifestations, and more
especially for the different phases of mediumship
possessed by Mrs. Bainbridge, including materiali
zation. As before stated, the right hand tower at
the rear was perfectly equipped as an observatory,
while the rooms under it were devoted to the demon
stration of kindred sciences. The left tower at the

SOLARIS FARM. 131

rear was furnished and arranged as a laboratory.
The rooms under it were set apart for experiment
and demonstrations in chemistry, metallurgy, pho
tography and several other sciences of like nature.
An able corps of carefully trained servants, under
the direction of Mrs. Bainbridge, the housekeeper,
made it easy to keep this remarkable establishment
in perfect order. One and all, these model servants
were devoted to their lovely young mistress, and
this devotion was based on their keen appreciation
of her noble ideas in regard to the true purpose of
human life, to her high estimation of its sacredness.
They were eager to serve her faithfully and well for
less than ordinary wages, contented and confident in
tHe knowledge that, in accordance with her clear
sense of justice, they were sure of being retired on
half pay after having reached the age of fifty-five.
This brief description of the exterior and interior of
Fenwick Hall, its equipment, its lovely mistress and
its people, will but faintly suggest its extraordinary
possibilities as a potent factor in the upper circles
of Washington life. Almost three years have passed
since the transition of Fennimore Fenwick, which
left his only daughter, Fern Fenwick, as the sole
heir to his vast wealth. With the exception of three
months each summer, spent at Fairy Fern Cottage,
or some mountain resort near it, she had remained
quietly at Fenwick Hall, busily engaged in rebuild
ing and refitting it. Meanwhile under the instruc
tion of able teachers, she had been hard at work in
efforts to supplement her excellent collegiate educa
tion with a better knowledge of history and by a
more complete mastery of the subtle secrets of the
higher sciences, as exponents of the powers, proper
ties and purposes of the inherent forces belonging

132 SOLARIS FARM.

to the various departments of Nature's vast domain.
After much deliberation she had undertaken this
work to enable her to wisely prepare and plan for a
life work in harmony with her lofty ideas on the
subject — ideas which had been slowly ripening in
her mind for many months. Having passed the or
deal of this severe post graduate course of general
study, she felt herself prepared to commence the
work contemplated by her general plan, which em
braced a skillful use of the great educational and
social advantages of Fenwick Hall, in her endeavors
to bring to the leading minds of the political and
social circles of Washington a clear conception of
the importance and significance of the real purpose
of human life ; with a view to reforming ethical, so
cial, industrial and political organizations on the
true basis of the unselfishness of the individual for
the advancement of the race; thus bringing these
organizations into exact and co-operative harmony
with the object and purpose of the existence of the
planet. Systems so organized, would then be in line
with a true conception of the functions of an ideal
republic — a government for the people, of the peo
ple and by the people ; conducted for the benefit,
protection and development of all the people. With
the world organized into families of such republics,
the advent of the millennium could be predicted,
and the advancement of the race to the point of per
fection would be insured.

SOLARIS FARM. . 133

CHAPTER XX.

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA.

FROM A careful review of her historical studies,
Fern Fenwick came to the conclusion that the com
petitive system was responsible for a majority of
the evils which had so retarded the world's progress.
She discovered that this same system was the father
of a conscienceless commercial spirit which had ex
isted for many centuries as the basis of all social or
ganization. That as such, it was a constant menace
to all good society ; the embodiment of a cruel self
ishness of a savage type, which insisted that might
makes right — that the strong should thrive by prey
ing upon the weak. In this position it boldly denied
the immortality of the soul, so far as the weaker
workers were concerned. Therefore the cheap lives
of these poor people had no claim to be considered
as sacred, because they represented so many human
souls. In the absence of any practical or effective
protest from the religions of the world, this mon
strous system of selfishness had in all these years,
grown unchecked and unmolested in its methods of
cruel greed. From the shadows and gloom of these
threatening conditions, existing so manifestly in di
rect violation of all progressive law, came a demand
that the negative belief in the immortality of the
soul, be speedily replaced by a positive knowledge
of it. A knowledge sustained and supported by
practical demonstrations, through the action of nat
ural law, whose manifestations and demonstrations
should be so direct and indisputable as to appeal
convincingly to the hard headed thinkers, who as a

134 . SOLARIS FARM.

class, seemed to represent a materialistic element
that threatened to overthrow all belief in immortality.

In answer to this demand, about the beginning of
the last half of the nineteenth century, there hap
pened an event of the utmost importance, potent
with promise for the mighty spiritual unfoldment
and general advancement of the people of the twen
tieth century.

In the humble home of the Fox family, at the lit
tle village of Hydesville, near Rochester, New York,
by the co-operative efforts of mortals and spirits,
there was constructed and established a line of com
munication between the two worlds — the mortal and
the spiritual. Two little children, the Fox girls,
were the mediums, a combination of operator and
electric battery — or, in other words the necessary
instruments for successful spiritual telegraphy. In
this obscure home of the poor and lowly, in a quiet
way, unheralded and unannounced, there came to the
world a knowledge of the existence of one of na
ture's grandest laws, the law of mediumship ; there
after the way was open, on the physical plane of ex
istence, for an unlimited series of practical demon
strations of the immortality of the human soul : the
continuity of conscious life was substantiated by an
endless variety of proofs of the most convincing
character.

With this solution, of the destiny of the human
soul as an immortal and imperishable entity, came
the solid ground on which to build a permanent foun
dation for a social and industrial organization, on a
basis of unselfish, harmonious co-operation in per
fect accord with planetary evolution, and the real
object and purpose of human life.

rr..'s strong combination of the working factors of

SOLARIS FARM. 135

the problem, suggested to the mind of Fern Fenwick
the importance of first attempting to interest the
minds of the people she wished to control, in the
question of immortality as a natural fact that fol
lowed the dual nature of all human life, as a result
of planetary evolution. Once interested, she could
then convince them of the immortality of the soul,
as a conscious, imperishable entity, by practical
demonstrations through the law of mediumship.

These demonstrations would make it clear to them
that life on the physical plane of existence is transi
tory and ephemeral; somewhat in the nature of a
very brief period of primary experiences ; that life
on the spiritual plane of existence is permanent and
enduring; that therefore the pathway of progress
for the human soul must be almost entirely within
the realms of the world of spirit; that this great
truth should have careful consideration when deal
ing with questions affecting human lives ; that the
dominant immortal spirit of the dual individual pos
sesses a corporeal body, or mortal form, as a crude
outward expression of the indwelling spirit In its
earthly existence ; that this mortal form enfolds all
the possibilities of a life of eternal progression for
the Ego or spirit as a conscious identity on the spir
itual plane of existence ; that the change called death
is a natural one, to be approached calmly without a
fear; that it is really a new birth, which does not
disturb the continuity of life.

Once convinced of the verity of these great truths,
all lovers of humanity, all progressive people, all
earnest thinkers, would readily understand and ap
preciate the sacredness of human life, as the flower
and fruit of the planet — its highest expression ; they
would then be prepared to co-operate with any pro-

136 SOLARIS FARM.

gressive movement for the advancement of the race.
To make the necessary conditions for the accom
plishment of this great work was the grand purpose
of Pern Fenwick's Washington life. With this pur
pose in view, Fenwick Hall had been especially fitted
and equipped. For this she had cultivated a large
circle of acquaintances among the fashionable lead
ers of the best society of the Capital City. Caring
but little for the ceasless round of soul-wearying so
cial functions which so completely absorbed these
people ; yet filled with a determination to win them
to a higher life, she bore herself bravely through
the season which proved one long procession of so
cial triumphs. Inspired by the intensity of a grand
purpose; endowed with a clear, musical voice, per
fect health, youth and beauty, combined with a char
mingly irresistible personal magnetism ; armed with
the quiet dignity of perfect self-control, and the
genius of her brilliant mind, so broadly cultured ; an
adept in psychic lore ; an entertaining and eloquent
conversationalist, our heroine created a profound
sensation in the most select circles of the social
world. Everywhere she was the center of attrac
tion, surrounded by admiring throngs of cultured
people, representing wealth and leisure, who has
tened to pay homage to her as a Twentieth Century
society goddess, whose wand of magic controlled
millions of money. In the homes of the exclusive
few, she was hailed as a thrice welcome guest ; celeb
rities, ranking high as statesmen, soldiers, poets, ar
tists, anthors, representative professional men .and
leading men of business, were completely charmed
and curiously fascinated by this new queen of the
social realm, and vied with each other in eager ef
forts to win her favor and perhaps her friendship,

SOLARIS FARM. 137

in the hope of gaining admittance to the very limi
ted circle of fortunate people who were the recipi
ents of invitations to the famous dinners, receptions
and entertainments at Fenwick Hall. These people
instinctively felt the attractive power of some silent,
mysterious force, some high motive, which, combined
with dazzling beauty and brilliant genius, drew them
to her side, without the wish or power to resist.

This phenomenal wave of popularity continued to
increase until a choice of the best people in every
branch of the social world, was at the command of
this new leader of the exclusive set ; they were ready
to assist in carrying forward any progressive move
ment she might choose, by her championship to
make the fashion. However, this universal willing
ness to follow her leadership, seemed based on a firm
conviction in some way unconsciously established in
the minds of her devotees, that all of Fern Fen-
wick's plans and purposes were for the good of hu
manity, wisely guided by a skill and judgment most
remarkably rare — apparently far beyond her years !
The whole situation was a complex problem they
could not analyze : they did not even try !

With the advent of modern spiritualism in 1848,
came the first opportunity to bring woman forward
as a teacher and leader in the great work of eleva
ting and spiritualizing the masses. As a heritage
from her sister oracles, who spake in the mystic
temples of the ancient past, the modern woman was
endowed with the divinity of a rarely sensitive and
highly refined spiritual organization. By virtue of
this endowment, she speedily demonstrated her pe
culiar fitness for this new mission. Her eloquence
and inspiration charmed the multitude from a thous
and rostrums. Her work in this new field was so

138 SOLARIS FARM.

startlingly brilliant, important and successful as to
attract the attention of the whole civilized world ;
affording a remarkable object lesson which demon
strated her possession, as the mouth-piece of inspi
ration, of a wonderful magnetic power to sway the
people ; to enthuse, interest and educate them up to
higher mental, moral and spiritual conditions ; by
making them aware of the vast import of the true
purpose of human life ; by helping them to realize to
a limited degree, the significance of immortality,
their individual responsibility in relation to the uni
verse, as important factors in the evolutionary ad
vancement of the race toward the millennium of its
final destiny.

These inspired teachings touched a responsive
chord in the hearts of all womankind as they began,
dimly at first, to perceive the all-pervading force
and rythm of the dominant key-note to tho evolution
of the race, which in thunder tones ever proclaims
the mighty truth, that all progress of the race de
pends entirely upon the elevation, education and re
finement achieved by woman. They also began to
understand something of the glorious possibilities of
a perfected womanhood, as a regenerator of man
kind. A magnificent array of future victories for
woman's work loomed up before them as a command
to awake ; to prepare for the coming dawn of the
twentieth century — the beginning of a new cycle in
the life of the planet ; the commencement of woman's
golden era ! To woman the command was impera
tive that she must strive for more wisdom, for more
light on her holy mission as the evangel of evolving
life ; that she might reach a higher consciousness of
her individual responsibility as the keeper and guar
dian of the sacred temple of human life — a temple

SOLARIS FARM. 139

in which is ever repeated the evolution, ontogeny,
and phylogeny of the race ; where, by this most mys
teriously beautiful of all processes, there is con
stantly being welded together the planetary growth,
physical, mental and psychical experiences of ages
upon ages in the past ; with the higher, purer, better
and more spiritual possibilities of the race in its
planetary progress for uncounted ages yet to come.

From this general awakening there followed — for
the purpose of securing that practical education of
training, which actual contact and individual expe
rience alone can confer — a vigorous effort on the part
of the brightest and most progresive women of the
Nineteenth Century, to enter, singly and as organi
zations, into all the activities of life. Hampered by
the blinding predjudice of a long line of centuries ;
many of these earlier organizations, as might have
been foreseen, were unsparingly criticised as exhibi
tions of ill-directed foolishness, altogether crude,
unprogressive and unsatisfactory. Nevertheless,
the dominant spirit of courageous and persistent
effort, combined with high purpose and pure motive,
soon won the approval of the better classes and ac
complished a marked improvement in both work and
method. This rapid improvement pointed unerr
ingly to future achievment of that success shown in
the conditions which prevailed at the close of the
century, whereby woman was very generally recog
nized as a necessary and successful co-worker in all
the suitable employments of life.

Fern Fenwick, in full sympathy with the move
ment, was alive to the demands of the situation.
With the purpose of concentrating the efforts of all
the women's organizations which held their annual
conventions in Washington, into one channel, lead-

140 SOLARIS FARM.

ing to perfect motherhood, as the result of woman's
social and financial independence ; she identified her
self with them as a generous contributor. Soon she
became the friend and trusted adviser of all of the
leaders. She placed Fenwick Hall at their disposal,
for use as a general headquarters. In this way, a
wise direction of the combined women's movement
into a united work along lines in harmony with plan
etary evolution for the perfection of the race, be
came an integral part of Fern Fenwick's broad plan
for a life work.

By the end of Fillmore Flagg's first year at So
laris Farm, Fern Fenwick had matured her plans for
her own peculiar work. Much to her satisfaction,
the necessary conditions had been created, the whole
movement organized and well in hand. Fillmore's
work for the education and elevation of the agricul
tural classes, had given her energy and inspiration
to accomplish a similar and co-operative work among
people of wealth and leisure, who, ignorant of the
true object and purpose of life, were unwittingly
wasting precious years in leading indolent and aim
less lives, by lending themselves body and soul to
the care and canker of the fashionable game of kill
ing time. One year's experience had taught her
that the task was a difficult one, to accomplish which
required time, patience and perseverance, reinforced
by courage, skill and tact.

SOLARIS FARM. 141

CHAPTER XXI.

HIS WOOING PROSPERS WHILE OUR HERO ENJOYS
HIS FIRST VACATION.

PERN PENWICK'S interest in the experimental farm
was intense. She read with eagerness the weekly
reports from Fillmore Flagg, which were accompa
nied by such charmingly ardent love letters. She
was very proud of the success he had achieved in
two short years. She blushed as she thought how
dear to her he had become in those busy months which
swiftly passed. How much she should miss him and
his fascinating love letters, if by evil chance any
thing should should happen to take him away from
her ! She could not contemplate such a possibility
without a shudder. Now that her studies were fin
ished and her plans perfected, why not send for him
to come to Fenwick Hall for a week's vacation ? He
had certainly earned the privilege which he would
prize so much. The opportunity to personally com
pare notes and exchange suggestions would no doubt
prove helpful to the farm work and to her own.
She longed for the confidential companionship of
some one who was in perfect sympathy with her,
who could understand her work, and appreciate her
motives in carrying it forward ; some one who would
be able to advise her wisely and unselfishly ; one in
whom she had implicit confidence. Who so capable
and so desirable as Fillmore Flagg ? Acting on the
impulse of the moment, she wrote the letter direct
ing him to come at once.

To Fillmore Flagg, the summons to Washington

142 SOLARIS FARM.

proved as welcome as it was unexpected. He came
at the earliest possible moment. The hope of again
meeting the noblest, sweetest, and dearest woman
in the world for him, his heart's idol ; of again being
permitted to look long and lovingly into her glo
riously beautiful eyes, stirred his emotional nature
intensely, and fired his throbbing pulse with the fe
ver of impatient expectancy. The beautiful words of
the poet Dennison, in his "Night Ride of a Lover,"
were ever in his mind and on his lips. Over and
over again he murmered :

* ' Though fleet as an arrow he flies,
Though sundering space swiftly dies,
My heart cries ' Oh haste !
All time is a waste

'Till I drink of her soul at her eyes ! ' "
The speediest express train seemed a laggard, left
far behind in the race of the journey by his swift de
sire, which kept pace with the telegram announcing
his departure from Solaris and the probable time of
his arrival in Washington. At length his heart was
made glad by a distant glimpse of the dome of the
Capitol, which seemed to give him a welcome greet
ing as it marked his approach to the great city. He
found Fern Fenwick's carriage, with Mrs. Bainbridge
waiting for him at the depot. Half an hour later he
was shown into the library at Fenwick Hall, where
in radiant beauty his blushing sweetheart gave him
a royal welcome.

As he approached her, with shining eyes and face
aglow, soul and body radiant with the grace and ado
ration of his all-absorbing love, the heroic order of
his manly beauty thrilled the heart of Fern Fenwick
with its irresistible charm. The kisses claimed by
a lover's privilege, she was powerless to deny. Nay!

SOLARIS FARM. 143

she did not try to hide the shining light of a great
happiness from the adoring eyes of such a noble
lover, whose magnetic presence stilled the tumult of
her fluttering heart with the ecstatic calm of a meas
ureless content ; that unmistakable signature of sanc
tion, that crowning seal of nature's approval which
greets the meeting of kindred souls, who, mated in
the warp and woof of the web of destiny, in the
flashing flight of Cupid's dart, become the harmo
niously united halves of a perfect whole.

Ah, thrice happy, thrice blessed, thrice crowned
lovers ! How swiftly passed those golden hours, as
hand in hand, they sat entranced, with soulful eyes
in silent communion, dreaming and drifting in the
cloud-land of love's harvest-moon, in whose silvery
mist they lost all consciousness of the existence in
this world of aught else beside themselves !

The next morning after his arrival at Fenwick
Hall, Fillmore Flagg having breakfasted with Fern
Fenwick and Mrs. Bainbridge, accompanied the for
mer to her work room in the tower. Here, as had
been arranged on the previous evening, she gave
him a complete account of her work in Washington,
since the transition of her father. She also gave
the details of her general plan for enlarging the
scope of the work to include the women's movement
and of directing the combined work in such a way
as to become an aid to the work of the model farm.

"My dear Fillmore," said Fern, "How are you im
pressed by my scheme for carrying out the chosen
plans ? Can you suggest anything that may be of
assistance to me ? "

"Your scheme," replied Fillmore Flagg, "is a
glorious one which promises to start a revolution in
the aristocratic circles of society. It impresses me

144 SOLARIS FARM.

profoundly, as a deep laid plot, cunning and strong,
which must accomplish a vast amount of good for
the interests of humanity. So deep, so broad and
so vast are its possibilities, that a week devoted to
study and reflection would but poorly prepare me to
understand its significance or perfection as a whole,
much less to pronounce judgment upon it. But at
this moment, of one thing I feel sure — that the noble
purpose which has inspired your skill and genius in
the construction of this remarkable plan, which
deals so effectively and practically with human life
as the result of planetary evolution, will prove a
sure guide to success. The plan itself, in all of its
details, is already so perfect, in my estimation, as to
leave nothing for me to suggest by way of improve
ment. It is characteristic of you and of your ca
pacity for brilliant work ! I am, more than ever be
fore, amazed at this exhibition of your intellectual
greatness, which demonstrates your power to think
so deeply and plan so wisely. I am very proud of
you ! I am especially grateful for this opportunity
to burn incense as a worshipper at the shrine of your
genius ! You ask to what extent will the work affect
the destiny of woman ? I answer, its possibilities in
that direction are limitless ! They are beyond the
power of any living mortal to comprehend ! With
woman surrounded by such conditions of financial
independence, and such harmonious environments as
will permit her to devote the best energies of her
soul to the perfection of the highest type of mother
hood, there will come a solution of the problem of
how best to accomplish the perfection of the race.
Surely, generations far in the future shall rise up to
call you blessed ! Dearest, best and noblest of wo
men ! Go forward bravely without a fear for the TQ-

SOLARIS FARM. 145

suit. Uudoubtedly your plan possesses all the ele
ments of success. With the talisman of your good
ness and beauty as the moving force, you cannot
fail. Whatever I am capable of doing to assist you,
I shall do gladly, with all my heart and strength. "

"Thank you, my dear Fillmore," said Fern, "your
words of assurance and approval, so beautifully ex
pressed, have appealed potently to all that is good
and spiritual in my nature. They have inspired me
to better and nobler deeds. They are very grateful
to me and I prize them highly.

' ' Now that you are so much interested, I feel sure
you will be able to help me in thinking out some
problems which puzzle me. For instance : From
among the people I have interested, I wish to select
and concentrate the dominant thinkers and workers
of both sexes and from all classes, into some kind of
a club organization, for the purpose of still further
perfecting the efficiency of organized co-operative
effort. Question : Shall this society take the form of
a club? If so, what name shall I choose for it? In
its formation what method shall I use ? Can you
evolve anything from your inner consciousness in
answer to these questions ? "

Absorbed in the intensity and earnestness of her
questioning spirit, Fern Fenwick left her chair and
as her interrogatories came to an end, she stood by
side of Fillmore Flagg, looking straight into his eyes
with such a penetrating, magnetic glance, that for
some moments he was unable to reply. With his
beautiful curl-crowned head thrown back to meet
and return her entrancing gaze, he breathed but
slowly and for the moment seemed rigid as a man of
marble; a far-off, dreamy look shone from his half
closed eyes. Presently, with a long sigh, speaking

146 SOLARIS FARM.

very slowly and softly, he said : ' ' Ah ! Miss Fenwick,
I think I see what you are reaching out for. Your
idea is coming to me now quite clearly." Then with
returning animation he continued: "Yes, I grasp
the idea ; it is capital ! I believe I can help you. I
would suggest the use of the club formation without
using the word 'club' in its title. I would call it
'The Twentieth Century Cosmos.' I would choose
for its badge of membership a small silver fern leaf,
crossed by a large gold key. I would advise that
you alone, as the founder and sole director of the
club, should have the power to select the members,
and to decorate them with the badge of membership.
To be in harmony with the century idea, the number
of members should be limited to one hundred. All
meetings of the club should be held in suitable rooms
at Fenwick Hall; these rooms should be known as
Cosmos Court. Admittance to each meeting should
be gained by the presentation at the door, of an invi
tation, printed on club paper, bearing the name of
the member, giving the date and stating the object
of the meeting, all duly attested by your written sig
nature as director.

"The object and purpose of the existence of the
club may be stated as follows : That its member
ship may secure, by the harmonious association of
properly qualified minds, — which shall represent the
dominant thinkers in all departments of knowledge —
a higher, broader conception of the possibilities and
purposes of li'fe ; as the necessary basis which shall
make it possible to acquire a larger store of cosmic
wisdom, by the use of systematic methods of co-op
erative research, study and thought.

"This system of formation for a club would cer
tainly be unique. I believe it will prove to be es-

SOLARIS FARM. 147

pecially well fitted for the accomplishment of your
peculiar work. Does the plan proposed meet your
approval by offering satisfactory answers to your
questions ? "

"Oh ! my dear Fillmore," said Fern, "what a dar
ling, clever boy you are, to be sure ! Now it is my
turn to praise your wisdom and your genius. I think
your plan is an excellent one, which will suit the exi
gencies of my purpose most admirably. Before you
return to Solaris we will consider the details more at
length. Now let us change the subject.

* * In keeping you so long at my work, how selfish
and thoughtless I have been ! I shall try to make
amends ! I have planned to make your brief visit
as pleasant as possible. To day I must show you
over the house and grounds. In the afternoon we
shall take a long drive which will give you a glimpse
of the beautiful streets, buildings, parks and monu
ments of our lovely city. Each afternoon these
drives are to be repeated, until you are familiar
with the great possibilities of this city of destiny,
this priceless gift — the perpetual home of the gov
ernment of the nation — from General George Wash
ington, who is forever enshrined in the hearts of the
people as the founder of the republic, the father of
his country ! When you return to our farm people,
I wish you to be able to impress them with the match
less beauty, vastness and importance of the City of
Washington, the political center of this unrivaled re
public. It is my great desire to have them always
think of it and speak of it with love and pride, with
feelings of individual proprietary interest, as they
realize that they are important factors, as voters and
working units of the government, in the great work
of shaping its destiny.

148 SOLARIS FARM.

' ' As you are the guest of honor at Fenwick Hall,
I am going to do my best to make you, for one week,
the happiest ma-n in town ! The evenings are to be
devoted to the theatre, the opera, and to various so
ciety events at Fenwick Hall, arranged for your es
pecial benefit and edification."

"My dear Fern," said Fillmore, "How good and
kind you are ! To be near you, to hear your voice, to
look into your beautiful eyes ; is paradise for me ! A
week so full of happiness, I shall cherish as the one
week of a lifetime ! As to these society events of
which you speak, I shall be jealous of each moment
so devoted which shall take you from my side. Pray
then, my good angel, do make such moments as short
as possible ! "

"Rest assured, my knight of the farm, you shall
have no cause to complain, " said Fern, with a saucy
smile as she laid her hand caressingly on his arm.
' ' You are to come with me, prepared to look and lis
ten, while I show you the beauties of my Washing
ton home ! "

***** *****

As the "Saint Louis Express" left the Washington
station, westward bound, Fillmore Flagg caught a
final glimpse of Fern Fenwick, as with characteris
tic grace and enthusiasm she continued to wave a
parting salute with her dainty lace handkerchief, un
til the train had vanished around the curve. With a
sigh he returned to his seat to muse over the events
of the week which had passed so sweetly yet so very
swiftly for him.

Yes, Fern had kept her pledge up to the last mo
ment. As the guest of honor at Fenwick Hall, she
as hostess, in all the graciousness of her bewitching
beauty, marked by such charming tenderness, had

SOLARIS FARM. 149

made him conscious each day that he was indeed the
happiest man in town. He now returned to Solaris
with renewed courage and enthusiasm, to prepare
for the celebration at the farm of the coming arbor-
day festival, which Fern had promised to attend. As
this celebration was to mark her first visit to Solaris
Farm, he wished most ardently to have it prove a
great success.

The events of the past week had been a revelation
to Fillmore Flagg : a host of new attributes to the
noble character of Fern Fenwick had shone forth
and dazzled him by their unexpected brilliancy. He
began to realize what a wonderful woman she was in
this new role, as the queen of the select set in the
aristocratic circles of "Washington society.

Her strange power to mold the minds of these peo
ple ; to make them strive for the accomplishment of
social and industrial reforms, which meant the re
demption of the masses, impressed him most pro
foundly. By what remarkable process had she, in
so short a time, achieved such commanding heights
of intellectual and spiritual greatness ? Heights,
where by operating from the vantage ground of the
social and political center of the republic, like some
chief marshal on the broad field of human events,
she could, by the unseen and irresistible power of
hypnotic suggestion, inspire, guide and control the
causative and law-making forces which so power
fully affect all social and industrial conditions. Was
it possible that spiritual unfoldment alone, qould con
fer such marvelous power ? Apparently in response
to the intensity of his question, came the reply :

11 When a person representing combined physical,
intellectual and spiritual unfoldment, is inspired by
a noble, unselfish desire to accomplish a great good

150 SOLARIS FARM.

for all human life, by the use of methods that are in
conjunctive harmony with the evolutionary progress
of the planet : then such a desire acquires an irresis
tible force. Naught can prevail against it ! In com
pliance with the demands of a wise cosmic law, it
has received the omnistic seal of nature's approval."
The clearness and wisdom of this unexpected re
ply, appealed strongly to the reason of Fillmore
Flagg. Profoundly moved, yet outwardly calm, he
perceived at once that the truth of the statement
was absolute ! In the new light of this remarkable
revelation, he wished to carefully examine the claim
of the model co-operative farm to the seal of nature's
approval. Were the desires, the ideas and the meth
ods in conjunctive harmony with planetary evolution?
Apparently they were ! That the success of the
model farm meant the elevation and future happi
ness of humanity, was true beyond question. Equally
so was the intensity and unselfishness of the desire
which had inspired his action and the acts of Fenni-
more Fenwick and his daughter, Fern. Surely then,
the project bore the unmistakable stamp of approval
which foretold success ! It could not fail ! It must
succeed ! It was irresistible and invincible !

CHAPTER XXII.

A SURPRISE PARTY AND RECEPTION COMBINED.

As THE train approached the station at Solaris,
Fillmore, in blissful ignorance of coming events, be
gan to prepare himself to leave the coach. In re
sponse to a letter from George Gerrish, he had wired

SOLARIS FARM. 151

from St. Louis the time of his arrival. As he was
stepping from the train to the long platform, his
hand baggage was seized by trusty hands and quick
ly disappeared. He noted with amazement the gaily
decorated station and the throng of waiting people.
Before he had recovered from his surprise, Gertrude
Gerrish, evidently striving to assume a very digni
fied deportment, advanced to meet him. As she gave
him a hearty welcome, she said :

"As the leader of the reception committee, repre
senting the membership and children of the Solaris
Farm Company, who are gathered here in holiday
attire, unanimous in a desire to do honor to you ; I
greet you ! I welcome you back to Solaris Farm ! "

Turning quickly, with a wave of her hand, she
said : ' ' People of Solaris, three cheers for our Gen
eral Manager ! " At this time, the train having de
parted, the farm people almost covered the platform
with two deep lines, facing a narrow lane in the cen
ter, with heads uncovered, prepared and waiting for
the signal. The response came instantly in a ring
ing cheer from six hundred well-trained throats :
1 1 Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah for Fillmore Flagg ! Wel
come ! Welcome ! Welcome back to Solaris Farm ! "

Almost before Fillmore was aware of what had
really happened, Gertrude Gerrish had taken his
arm, as with a mysterious smile she said: "I am
now to escort you to the carriage prepared for your
reception. We are then to be escorted by the pro
cession to the public square, in front of the hall of
education and amusement, where the final ceremonies
are to take place, Of course you are surprised ! We
have planned for that very purpose ! f So come along
now without one word of protest! At the proper
moment you are to have as much time as you may

152 SOLARIS FARM.

desire in which to relieve your mind. For the pres
ent you are to keep quiet and obey ^ne — a despotic
master of ceremonies whose will is imperative and
whose dignity is not to be questioned, even for a
moment ! "

Fillmore Flagg, now obediently dumb, entered into
the spirit of the occasion. He was very much sur
prised — nay, well-nigh dazed — yet withal delighted,
as the happy significance of this unexpected welcome
came slowly into his mind. With hat in hand, bow
ing and smiling, arm in arm with Gertrude Gerrish,
he slowly passed between the long lines of happy
faces, keeping step with the throbbing measure of
the soft sweet music discoursed by the band. At
regular intervals, groups of gaily dressed children
waved their pretty flags or playfully pelted him with
roses. As the twain reached the end of the lines, a
novel chariot was waiting : a ladder-wagon of the
Solaris fire company, drawn by twenty brawny fire
laddies, was equipped with a broad platform, beauti
fully draped, bearing at each corner a choice selec
tion of fine large potted palms. In the center of this
platform was a smaller one, raised still higher ; on
this was placed the seat of honor, which was covered
by a lovely canopy of artistically interwoven ferns
and flowers. A broad flight of rough board steps,
carpeted and decorated, led up to the lofty seat on
this unique chariot. While our hero and the ' ' Mas
ter of Ceremonies" were climbing to reach it, the
procession quickly formed about the chariot into an
elongated hollow square, eight ranks deep ; the chil
dren with their flags marching in alternating lines of
boys and girls, formed the front of the square, while
the adults arranged in the same order, formed the
sides and the rear. Gilbert Gerrish, with the band

SOLARIS FARM. 153

of musicians, selected by him from the ranks of the
musical club, was placed in front of the square. He
was very proud and happy as he nourished his baton
and gave the signal for the procession to move for
ward. In this order they marched gaily along the
broad, tree lined avenue which led from the railroad
station to the village square. The chariot came to a
halt just in front of the hall of education and amuse
ment, with the seat of honor facing eastward, toward
the center of the public square. The procession
quickly reformed into three sides of a square, with
the eight ranks facing inward.

For a brief period silence reigned. Then at a sig
nal from Gertrude Gerrish, as Fillmore Flagg arose
with uncovered head and stood by her side, the
cheers and greetings of welcome were repeated by
the ranks with redoubled animation and intensity.

At this juncture, George Gerrish came forward to
the front of the raised platform, while Gertrude,
turning to Fillmore, said ; "The president of the So
laris Farm Company has been chosen by its people
to present to you a gift which they have selected, as
a tribute of their affection and also of their devotion
to you and to Solaris Farm."

"My esteemed friend and co-worker, Fillmore
Flagg," said George Gerrish: "As the mouth piece
of our people, I am happy to be permitted to join
in the active work of this reception. The people of
Solaris Farm, moved by one impulse, inspired by
sentiments of sincere friendship and enthusiastic
loyalty, desire to present for your acceptance, this
Solaris album, as a testimonial of their loving admi
ration ; as a token of their absolute confidence in the
wisdom of your leadership. This album contains
photographs of all the members of the company.

154 SOLARIS FARM.

Each picture is endorsed with the signature and with
the place and date of birth of the individual. They
are arranged and indexed in alphabetical order. Our
people were guided to a choice of this gift because
they were so profoundly impressed with the impor
tance of the experiment represented by this farm.
Because they felt so confident that its assured suc
cess would sound the key-note of a general move
ment for the emancipation and elevation of humanity
by the gradual introduction of wiser and better so
cial and industrial methods, which would eventually
result in the banishment of poverty and crime.

' ' Taking this view of the future, we may be par
doned for prophesying that fifty years hence, this
album of the pioneers of the movement, will possess
a greatly enhanced historical value. We trust, there
fore, that this possibility may make our gift more
acceptable. I now ask you to receive it in the spirit
of love which inspired its donation. In conclusion
allow me to assure you that under all circumstances,
you can count on the life-long friendship and loyalty
of the people whose pictures will greet you, as the
years come and go, whenever you may feel inclined
to look through the picture laden pages of Solaris
Album."

As George Gerrish concluded his speech, a swell
ing storm of cheers for Fillmore Flagg burst from
the ranks of the square. Again and again came the
repeated roar of cheers, accompanied by the roll of
the drums, and a circling cloud of waving handker
chiefs, hats and flags. Fillmore Flagg, inspired by
the enthusiasm and excitement of his cherished peo
ple, looked very handsome and heroic as he stood
with his manly figure erect, his noble head thrown
back, his eyes shining with emotion, the album held

SOLARIS FARM. 155

firmly in his right hand. Bowing and smiling, he
turned gracefully to face the greetings from the
ranks pf familiar faces, which were swaying with
joy and shouting so wildly. Waiting for a few mo
ments, he then raised his left hand, with the open
palm outward, as a signal for silence. The tumult
was stilled as if by magic.

"People of Solaris!" he said; his clear, strong
voice vibrating with emotion : "To you, through
your worthy president and your able committee,
with a grateful heart, I return my thanks for this
most unexpected and charming reception; for this
beautiful and appropriate gift, which I prize much
more than words can tell. Believe me when I say
that I most thoroughly appreciate the noble senti
ments which inspired its selection. I am delighted
with the happy significance of this demonstration, as
a prophecy of the complete success of this experi
mental farm. This exhibition of your loyalty to me
and to Solaris Farm, fills my heart with emotions of
grateful joy. You have made me very proud and
very happy ! I shall never forget the encourage
ment of your enthusiastic support, which has given
me renewed vigor and strength to carry forward the
work. I now pledge to you my sacred word of honor
that the golden memories of this glorious occasion,
and the possession of this precious album, shall
henceforth inspire me to still greater efforts for the
success of our cherished enterprise, which means so
much for us, so much more for humanity.

' ' I am willing to acknowledge without a moment's
hesitation, that your surprise for me was skillfully
planned ; that its execution was charmingly success
ful ! I wish to return the compliment. I have a sur
prise in store for you ! The present moment is pro-

156 SOLARIS FARM.

pitious ; I will disclose it ! I am the bearer of a gift
for you — a gift wisely chosen, which is in every way
worthy of your admiration and appreciation. A gift
of such exceeding value, that I cannot speak of it
without becoming eloquent. Gold and silver cannot
measure its worth to you ! Securely packed in strong
cases, which are now lodged in our express office, is
a rare collection of books. This collection contains
ten complete sets of the best text books for each one
of the classified sciences, together with the vocabu
laries, dictionaries, charts and drawings belonging
thereto. Accompanying each set is a miscellaneous
collection of the best works written descriptively on
that particular science. These books are intensely
interesting and very valuable, although they are not
classed as text books. Altogether the five hundred
volumes form the finest and most comprehensive col
lection of scientific works I have ever seen. They
are the most useful and' expensive books published
that can be found in the whole range of scientific
literature. They contain the knowledge we most
need in our enterprise, to enable us as an associated
body of people to do better, wiser and more effective
co-operative thinking and working.

"To meet and satisfy our needs in this direction,
these books were chosen as a gift to our library, by
Miss Fern Fenwick, the beautiful and generous
patroness of Solaris Farm. She desires me to em
phasize her wish that you abstain from any public
expression of thanks. In lieu thereof, she prefers
to accept the measure of your diligence and enthu
siasm in acquiring the stores of knowledge thus of
fered, as the most appropriate and satisfactory meas
ure of your gratitude to her for the gift.

"To master the contents of these books, is to mas-

SOLARIS FARM. 157

ter the sum of human knowledge in the various de
partments of science. With this mastery there will
come to us the largest understanding, and the clear
est obtainable conception of our relations toward
each other, and to the universe around us. Thus
enlightened, we may discover that ignorance is a sin ;
that as responsible entities in the great pulsing sea
of cosmic life, with more or less power to help or
hinder the purpose and perfect unfoldment of all life
— we cannot afford to be selfish, sinful or cruel in our
actions toward each other, or toward any other form
of cosmic life. Having once acquired these convic
tions, with this most important fund of information,
we possess the key which will unlock the mystery of
the action and reaction of the potent and unseen
forces of nature, which affect us as individuals, as
they do the earth, air and water, the elements so
necessary to our existence. The restless, never- sat
isfied, questioning spirit, born with every human
soul, is the expression of a divine purpose ! To grat
ify this insatiable desire for more knowledge, is to
comply with the demands of a wise cosmic law. By
so doing, we enter into the enjoyment of a never- fail
ing source of perpetual delight. We are crowned
with a happiness of the purest type !

"In viewing this vast field of knowledge, spread
so invitingly before us ; in anticipating the joy we
may glean therefrom ; we catch a glimpse of the ex
ceeding richness of the boon of immortality, which,
as a spiritual heritage, is waiting lor us. We begin
slowly to understand ourselves as the repositories of
infinite possibilities ! — as cosmic units of the larger
Cosmos — as a perfect microcosm of the macrocosm !
With feelings of awe-inspiring adoration, we reflect
that we may know ourselves as individuals, only as

158 SOLARIS FARM.

the extent of our knowledge of the universe around
us is increased. Responding to the law of action and
reaction, the more we reflect, the greater becomes our
desire to know more of ourselves. Always more !
Ever more ! Never quite satisfied ! Fortunately, the
immortality of the wisdom loving human soul embra
ces all time, and all eternity ! Therefore, through
the law of eternal progression, we may naturally and
rightfully aspire to the acquirement of all possible
knowledge. In cultivating these aspirations, we may
rest assured that we shall constantly gain new con
ceptions and new meanings for the word * Heaven. '

"In conclusion, my friends and co-workers, my
brothers and sisters, let us congratulate ourselves
as the fortunate recipients of this priceless gift : let
us endeavor to show our appreciation by a speedy
mastery of the contents of these valuable books.
Let us approach the work, full of joyful anticipation
and enthusiasm, with the proud consciousness that
we are invited guests to a great feast of learning.
Let us strive in every way to make study thoroughly
enjoyable. Let us make it one long holiday in honor
of the Goddess of Wisdom ! One grand harvest-
home of our gathering of the golden fruit from the
tree of knowledge. Let us be as earnest as we are
enthusiastic — let us be thorough, and withal method
ical and systematic.

"The ten sets of text- books, suggest the formation
of the membership of the company into that number
of scientific clubs ; which I recommend. This divis
ion would give fifty adults as the average member
ship of each club. We have at least ten available
rooms large enough to accommodate clubs of that
size. Each club should begin with the primary text
book which should be read, discussed, analyzed and

SOLARIS FARM. 159

re-read until clearly understood by the entire class.
The club to proceed in the same order with the next
of the series, until all are thoroughly mastered. I
will volunteer to join the club to which is assigned
that scientific study which may prove the most diffi
cult, least inviting and most unpopular. By the force
of a united purpose, working co-operatively together,
we shall soon develop a capacity for severe mental
labor, which will make the mastery of the remainder
of the course a constant source of pleasure. What
we need in the way of equipment, chemicals, instru
ments, etc. , can be easily and quickly secured.

/'George and Gertrude Gerrish will have an advi
sory superintendence over the work of all the clubs.
Years of experience in teaching have prepared them
to quickly untangle the mixed quantities or condi
tions that may confront us, and thus skillfully turn
our difficulties into delights.

' ' With this general plan for conducting our literary
festival, I will leave the subject with you for consid
eration at the proper time.

"I feel conscious that under the circumstances, I
owe you an apology for having so trespassed upon
your patience and good nature, by the length of my
remarks. Therefore I desire to „ acknowledge my
thrice doubled appreciation of your manifest inter
est, attention and sympathy, which have both nat
tered and encouraged me greatly.

' ' I will now close by thanking you, through your
worthy officers, for this cordial and beautiful recep
tion ; also for the opportunity to address you on a
subject in which I am so deeply interested."

160 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XXIII.

FORMATION OF POPULAR SCIENCE CLUBS.

As THE days passed after the reception, the new
books were unpacked by Fillmore Flagg, assisted by
George Gerrish. As soon as possible they were ar
ranged and placed on appropriate shelves in each
one of the ten rooms prepared for them. Large steel
engravings in plain oak frames, of all the authors,
together with the maps and charts, all neatly glazed
and mounted, adorned the walls of the particular
room to which they belonged, adding greatly to the
attractiveness of the general collection. As the
work progressed, the keen interest displayed by all
members of the farm company seemed to increase.
They could talk of nothing else ; they were eagerly
and almost impatiently waiting for the announcement
of the formation of the clubs. Accordingly there
fore, as soon as the rooms were ready, a complete
schedule of the books in each series was made ; these
schedules being numbered from one to ten, to indi
cate the series to which they belonged. They were
printed and distributed among the members of the
company, with a request that one week later, each
member should return two of the numbered schedules
marked as first and second choice of the studies they
desired to take up. By this method of voluntary,
selection, the clubs were quickly and easily formed,
without friction or embarassment. Well stimulated
by an ever increasing fund of interest and enthusias
tic ambition, the club members, impressed with the
wisdom of Fillmore Flagg's advice, promptly took
up the class work of the study chosen, eager to se-

SOLARIS FARM. 161

cure a generous share of the educational benefits to
be dispensed at the board of this great literary feast,
to which they had been so kindly invited as especially
selected guests. With some misgivings as to the final
result, Fillmore Flagg carefully watched the prelimi
nary club work while yet in its organic stage. He
had been somewhat doubtful of the ability of the av
erage club member, who was not a trained student,
to acquire a sufficient interest in such abstract sub
jects, with which to develop the mental force so nec
essary in order to digest and finally master them.
However, much to his surprise and delight, at the
very threshold of the work, the display of energy,
ability and mental acuteness on the part of the entire
club membership, dispelled the last remaining doubt
from his mind ; he was convinced of the practicability
and final success of the course.

In carefully analyzing the subject, he perceived
that they were quickened by the momentum of a uni
ted co-operative effort ; also that they .were — perhaps
subconsciously — pushed forward by a great number
of new ideas concerning the desirability of at once
acquiring a larger store of scientific lore, as a neces
sary and more complete equipment for the practical
duties of the battle of life. Dominant aiftl central
among these ideas, was the one which so temptingly
promised an increased knowledge of themselves as
individuals, by the mastery of the broad and hitherto
unexplored field of explanatory science ; which might
lead to a better solution of the mystery of environ
mental conditions. Finally, they were no doubt in
spired strongly by a firm conviction that, once armed
with a thorough scientific education, they would pos
sess an additional power to aid in making Solaris
Farm a speedier and more pronounced success.

162 SOLARIS FARM.

Fillmore Flagg accepted this demonstration of the
combined ability of the farm people to conquer the
most difficult problems of science, without the ad
vantage of previous training, as an added proof
that the ideas and methods of the model farm were
most assuredly in conjunctive harmony with plane
tary evolution; therefore with the great force of
combined co-operative mental effort to push it for
ward, still more surprising results might reasonably
be expected, when these efforts were more wisely
and skillfully directed along lines indicated by nature
as lines of the least possible resistance. A realiza
tion of these expectations would seem to suggest
that the key to future success in all educational work
lies in discovering systems, methods, associations
and surroundings for the students, which are nearest
in conjunctive harmony with natural evolution, con
sequently along a pathway presenting the fewest
possible obstacles.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A TWENTIETH CENTURY LOVE LETTER.

" ALL THE world loves a lover ! " is a trite but beau
tiful saying, which touches a responsive chord in the
great heart of humanity ! We cannot remain indif
ferent to the magnetic effect of the strong tide of his
eloquent and impetuous wooing. Nor can we with
hold a sympathetic desire to aid him in reaching the
goal of success — to win the precious prize. Quite
as naturally, we are intensely and delightfully inter
ested in the birth, the unfoldment, and the bios-

SOLARIS FARM. 163

soming of every individual entity in the great ocean
of cosmic life. Instinctively we recognize that love
is life. One could not exist without the other. Old
and young alike understand the potency of the spell
which binds the lover ; which holds him for uncon
scious periods of time, absorbed in dreamy contem
plation of his ecstatic devotion to the heroic virtues,
graces, accomplishments and attributes of the charm
ing woman, whom his heart has chosen to represent
all things in the universe which have meaning and
worth for him. Through this adorable woman, the
crowned and glorified object of his all-absorbing
love, he can best respond to the rythmic throbbing
of all cosmic life. In this superior state of beauti
ful transfiguration, he forgets self, and lives for
long happy months in the rare upper strata of real
unselfishness. Under the powerful influence of pure
love, the highest and holiest emotion which stirs,
controls and makes better the life of every mortal ;
lost in the blissful alembic of this great chemical
change, the lover recognizes himself in every dem
onstration of universal life around him. He also be
comes aware, from some inner consciousness, of the
extent to which the emotional nature controls and
molds the individual ; that among the anabolic emo
tions, love is the queen of the emotional empire; that
the touch of her magical scepter is so potent and
penetrating as to render the individual receptive and
responsive to all of the ennobling, purifying, progres
sive and exalting elements of the universe : but, on
the other hand, what is still more marvelous : that
the same touch renders the individual negative to
the inflowing currents from all of the baser elements.
With this awareness comes the conviction that the
Empire of Love is boundless and limitless ; that i*

164 SOLARIS FARM.

permeates and glorifies the vast ocean of infinity !
On the strong, swift tide of this shoreless ocean, the
lover floats, secure, serene and confident, on his voy
age toward destiny's most distant port.

The following letter from Fillmore Flagg to Fern
Fenwick, will serve in some measure to illustrate the
power of love to change, expand, energize and spir
itualize the entire character of the lover : to purify
and strengthen the moral disposition of our hero, to
eliminate from it all tendency to selfishness ; to en
dow him with a broader wisdom, with higher and no
bler aspirations of life ; to fit him more perfectly to
carry forward his great work for humanity at So
laris Farm.

# # -X- # # #-.**.»<*

' ' My Darling Fern : Noblest, purest and most
beautiful of women ! Like the rose to the sunlight,
like the needle to the pole, my heart turns in adora
tion to you. My own true love ! My peerless one !
My guiding star in love's azure sky ! My soul swells
and sings with its full tide of joy, as willing fingers
attempt to put in words the thoughts born of my
great love for you. What miracle have you wrought
for me, my precious one, that I am so happy ? The
earth, the sky, the verdant woods, the grand moun
tains, the green meadows, the shady nooks, the bab
bling brooks ; — all thrill my innermost being with a
thousand new charms ! The bees, the birds, the
flowers and trees as they bend or sigh to the passing
breeze; the solemn stillness of majestic night; the
deep blue sea, overarched by nature's matchless
crown of diamonds, a countless multitude of brilliant
stars, in the silvery moonlight of love — how eloquent
their song ! All things in nature speak to me ; they
bless you for loving me ! In the halo of that bless-

SOLARIS FARM. 165

mg, as I think of you, I am transfigured by a newly-
born ecstacy ! To breathe, to exist, is to realize the
superlative degree of my exquisite happiness ! Hid
den away from the clouds and storms of life, by the
golden mist which veils the measureless sea of love,
infinite love, I sail serene and confident upon its
heaving tide. Gently rocked by the lapping lullaby
of the rythmical waves of paradise, I fearlessly
float. I care not for time nor tide, nor distant port
of a future destiny ! Entranced by the music of
love's beautiful sea, I dream love's dream alone with
myself, the outer world shut away — swallowed up by
the overwhelming tide of my sweet and blissful con
tentment.

"From such hours of exaltation, I am sometimes
rudely awakened by a monster reflex wave of self-
examination. Ah, dear heart ! It is then that I ask
of my soul : What am I ? What have I done ? What
sweet guardian spirit guides my life, that I should
be made so exceedingly happy by the priceless love
of such a beautiful woman ? Am I worthy of such
a blessing? Can I properly appreciate the great
good fortune of being fondly and truly loved by
such a peerless woman, who is so dear to me, so no
ble, so good, so true; so pure, so bright, so beauti
ful ; so truly wise, so eloquent ; in every way so well
fitted by birth, wealth, and education to reign as
queen in the most brilliant and most exclusive circles
ef the social world ; even in the grandly beautiful
city of Washington, where the princes and poten
tates of the earth, lords of other lands, of wealth
and fashion of high degree, vie with each other and
with the republic's most honored statesmen, for one
smile, one look of recognition from this marvelous
woman, who is everywhere recognized as the domi-

166 SOLARIS FARM.

nant center of attraction ? Oh, the wonder of it !
This is she who holds the key to my heart !

"Ah, my adored one! As this picture of your life
fills my mind, I wonder what would happen to me
under such circumstances, with any other woman in
your place. I know I should be both furiously jeal
ous and foolishly despondent : but with you, the very
apotheosis of truth and honesty ! — Impossible ! It
could not be : so base a thought would perish with
the thinking ! I know you are as true as steel. The
pure soul which shines from your eyes has spoken
to mine. I am content ; I fear not ; I know that the
compass of your love is constancy.

' ' Oh ! my darling ! Chosen one of my soul ! How
great is the mystery of love ! How priceless the
blessing it brings to the lover ! How brilliant the
constellation, how spiritualizing the multitude of
new thoughts to which it gives birth ! How I pity
those who have not been touched and quickened by
the life-giving power of love ! How sad and deso
late is the pathway of the soul so unfortunate as to
be shut away from the sunshine of love ! Better,
far better, to die of love ! To die of love is to live
by it ! It is to have discovered the great deeps of
the infinite : for love itself is a revelation of the in
finite ! The aspiration of love is the inspiration of
paradise. Who can understand the significance, or
the great mystery of immortality, or the fulness of
the promise of eternal happiness to be gained by a
life of endless progression, without first having lived
a life of love ? The smile of love is the rainbow of
life ! Every tender emotion of love is a prayer, pure
and potent, for a higher life.

"The truth of these things, my sweet heart, I re
alize more fully each day. I feel and know that

SOLARIS FARM. 167

every link in the chain of eternal existence, is a link
of love ! My love for you has been for me a spirit
ual blessing indeed ! It has opened the eyes of my
soul, so that I may perceive the significance of the
miracle of love, which must precede the miracle of
birth, as the necessary beginning of the unfoldment
of the individual up to his highest estate — the repos
itory of infinite possibilitiea Love, then, my dear
one, is the highest and holiest attribute of the hu
man soul : that inspiring, controlling force, which
wings the soul to such sublime spiritual heights, as
are far above and beyond the storms of common pas
sions, and the evil influences of the baser emotions.
' ' Ah ! sweetheart of mine ! How much do I owe to
the uplifting power of love ! I question and wonder !
When its divine radiance shines -upon me, through
the glory of your beautiful eyes, I am led up the
steep acclivities of the mountain of wisdom by a
new pathway. I perceive that as the oracle of life,
love is the potency which crowns woman with that
entrancing aura of soft, sweet, melting force, which
for ages has proclaimed her the greatest and most
fascinating mystery of the universe ! I also per
ceive that, responding to the stimulant of this poten
tial aura, I am thrilled, spiritualized, energized, en
couraged and more perfectly fitted to perform what
ever difficult or heroic work the needs of our farm
people may demand. Fortunate for me was the day
when Fennimore Fenwick left you heir to his plans
for redeeming the lives of these people ! Fortunate
indeed, was the time when I was chosen by you to
discover, select and institute Solaris Farm, with the
broad humanitarian work which its success repre
sents. Each memory of this farm ; of my every
thought, plan or deed for its improvement : of its

168 SOLARIS FARM.

people ; of their lives, health, and happiness ; of their
sublime confidence in me, of the prompt obedience
they so cheerfully render to my slightest command ;
of the peculiar pride expressed by the appreciation
of their importance as working units of the farm, all
united, harmoniously blended, in one perfected co
operative mass ; — is a memory made more delight
fully permanent by the wonderful light of your love!

"Never before have I been so busy or so blessed!
Every emotion of pride, enthusiasm, ambition, joy
or love, which stirs the hearts and quickens the
pulse of these people, who are working with me for
one object so faithfully, so earnestly ; through the
magnetic halo of your love, is reflected upon me with
redoubled intensity. In the strong current of this
electrical stream of power, I am quickened, strength
ened and prepared to do better thinking and more
effective work for the perfect development of the
farm.

* ' At this point, dear Fern, I must mention an item
of farm news, in which I am sure you will be greatly
interested. We have arranged to have our arbor-
day celebration, or tree planting festival, on the 10th
day of the month of March in each year, as the sea
son, in this climate most suitable for the work. For
some months past, for the purpose of exciting in the
rainds of our people a keener interest, I have been
giving a course of lectures on the general subject of
forestry. These lectures have proved so attractive,
that as a result, they have been exceptionally well
attended by both old and young. The amount of in
terest displayed by my hearers, is a continual source
of surprise and delight to me. Early in the course,
this extraordinary interest culminated in such a per
fect shower of questions in regard to the details of

SOLARIS FARM. 169

the subject, that I was obliged to refer my question
ers to the various books written on the subject, as
most completely and satisfactorily answering the
multitude of their queries. As a consequence, the
botany club has had a great boom. While every
book in the library on forestry, or the care and cul
ture of plants and trees, including those in a full se
ries of annual reports from the Department of Agri
culture, is in constant use. You would be delighted,
my dearest, could you note the readiness of even the
children to grasp the idea, to understand the immen
sity of the benefits which may be conferred on future
generations by our systematically directed efforts in
tree planting here on this farm. Both young and
old alike, are quick to appreciate the important fact
that while we are enjoying a holiday, to which we
may look forward each year with increasing delight;
we are at the same time furnishing the world with
an object lesson as to the practicability and great
value of the good work which may be accomplished
by all classes of agricultural people, in the general
observance of such a festival.

' * The announcement of the good news that you are
to visit the farm in time to attend our first arbor day
celebration, on the tenth of next month, has made
our people very happy. They are simply wild with
delight at the prospect of seeing you so soon : of
having an opportunity to thank you in person for
the many favors you have so generously bestowed
upon them. Hitherto they have admired and adored
the beautiful and generous young patroness of So
laris Farm, through the medium of a life-size crayon
portrait, made some months ago, from one of your
recent photographs. Since then, this lovely shadow
of the idol of my heart, adorned by a suitable frame,

170 SOLARIS FARM.

has occupied the post of honor, as the only picture
on the walls of the library The advent of such a
charming picture, at once converted the library into
the throne room of the village, where gathered daily,
admiring throngs of our people to feast their eyes in
silent worship at the shrine of this life-like shadow
of your lovely face. In thus exposing this picture,
so dear, so sacred to me, to the earnest and respect
ful admiration of our people without your knowledge
or consent ; I trust, Dear Heart, that I may not have
outraged your sense of propriety in the slightest de
gree. It occurred to me that it would be just and
right, also most fitting and proper that, as the pat
roness of the farm, your portrait should appear in
the place it now occupies ; that it would be the most
appropriate method of linking your individuality, in
the minds of our people, with the peculiar work and
destiny of the farm. If you consider my action from
this point of view, I am sure you will approve. Like
some good fairy, the silent charm of your portrait
has each day, each hour, wrought its perfect work
in my life and in the lives of our people. It has
proved a constant source of delight ! An added tal
isman to insure the final success of our enterprise !

' ' Ah, my good angel ! my Princess Charming ! At
last comes the crowning thought which completes
my wreath of happiness ! It comes to me daily,
again and again ! It is this, Dear Heart ; that every
step toward the final and complete success of Solaris
Farm, is an added link in the chain of a shining des
tiny which shall bind our lives more firmly together,
until at last this beautiful chain of love shall have
become proof against the dissolving power of the
passing ages of an Eternity !

"In conclusion, sweetheart, may a bright band of

SOLARIS FARM. 171

faithful guardian spirits, ever watchful, ever near,
guide and guard you, the crowning treasure of my
life, is the earnest prayer of

* ' Your devoted, loving and loyal,

"FILLMORE FLAGG."

CHAPTER XXV.

THE REPLY.

"MY DARLING FILLMORE : Words fail to express
the happy effect of the pleasing emotions that arise
as I muse and dream, build castles in the air and in
dulge myrelf, again and again, in the luxury of read
ing line by line, the glowing tributes of love in your
marvelous letter. I am electrified by its wonderful
logic, rythm and melody. Ah, my chosen one ! So
manly ; so noble ; so true ! The witchery of your
eloquence is a conquering force, that Cupid with his
bow might well be proud of ! My heart rejoices
under the influence of its magical spell ! I am so
happy and so proud of you ! The great deeps of my
emotional nature have responded to the poetical sub
limity of your charmingly expressed sentiments.
They thrill my soul like the dawn of some glorious
summer day ; like the exquisite perfume of a sweet
flower ; like that sublimely sweet surprise which
steals over the senses, while a fleecy veil of silvery
mist, responding to the power of the advancing
king of day, slowly rises and discloses the shoreless
grandeur of that tidal mystery, the majestic, rest
less, billowy bosom of Old Ocean; like some grand
symphony of masterful music, penetrating and reso-

172 SOLARIS FARM.

nant, with that mysterious potency which awakens
every echo of the soul's musical possibilities ! Yet,
sweetheart, every word is charged with your perso
nal magnetism ; is stamped with your individuality ;
freighted with the wealth of your spiritual and intel
lectual development. In every line, sentence and
paragraph, I recognize you as my ideal of a lover,
the dearest and most noble of men !

"In my retrospective moods, the cloud of memo
ries, born of the incidents which have marked our
past acquaintence, form a telescopic vista. Through
this vista, examined in the crucible of much corres
pondence, the intimate association and the mutual
friendship of many months duration, I perceive that
I have discovered and have learned to appreciate the
sterling worth of your character. Through this av
enue I become conscious that you represent to me
the superior nobility of true American genius ; the
highest and grandest type of manhood ! Idealized
as my hero, I place you in the front rank of Ameri
ca's dominant thinkers ; a peer among peers, both
potential and progressive — yet withal so modest, so
free from dogmatism.

"I seem to feel intuitively that you are standing
at the very beginning of a new cycle in the history
of our planet : a cycle in which symmetry of mind
and power of brain, fix the standard by which nature
selects the leaders she deems most worthy of ruling
the destinies of her people. I feel that you have
been measured by such a standard, and chosen as
the instrument for the accomplishment of a special
work of the utmost importance !

"This bit of hero-worship on my part is due, no
doubt, to the intensity of my devotion to our Repub
lic; to the earnestness of my convictions in regard

SOLARIS FARM. 173

to its manifest destiny as a saving power — an uplift
ing force — among the nations of the earth. These
growing convictions are emphasized by the keener
perceptions of my spiritual nature, which declare
that this almost resistless force which dominates our
Republic, that may be likened to the world's storage
battery, is due to the progressive power gained by
the universal enlightenment of the American people
as a mass. This important thought seems to empha
size the wisdom and the importance of universal
education.

"I must now refer to a matter mentioned in your
letter, in which I am particularly interested. In de
clining to become jealous of the bevy of titled lords,
who pay fawning court to my wealth and social posi
tion, here in Washington, you do yourself justice;
while at the same time, you pay me the compliment
of a lifetime ! When compared with you, how puny
and feeble are the princes and titled lords, made by
kings and courts, in lands where selfishness reigns
supreme at the expense of millions of unfortunate
subjects ! An impecunious host of these fortune-
ihunting lords swarm in the society of our large cit
es. With faded titles of doubtful value, as their
only stock in trade, they fittingly represent the de
caying nobility of passing monarchies. They are
looking for victims ! They become the highly hon
ored guests of selfish, title - crazy, match - making
mothers ! Oh the pity of it ! Oh the shame of it !
How American girls, who are born to wealth, with
all of the advantages which wealth may command,
including the best education possible in this land of
progressive liberty ; who should love devotedly the
vital principles of our democracy ; — can be so daz
zled by the false glitter of a title, that they deliber-

174 SOLARIS FARM.

ately choose to mate themselves (and their riches,)
with such sorry specimens of lordliness ; such brain
less, nerveless bundles of selfishness, is something
too monstrous for my comprehension !

' ' Are these girls really Americans at heart ? Do
they represent the women of our land? Can they
understand or appreciate the privilege as a birth
right, of proudly taking an honored part in the com
ing motherhood of this great and progressive land
of republican liberty ; a republic which to day stands
as the hope of the world ? Is it possible that they
can knowingly wish to become mothers of a feeble
race of puny children — children who are cruelly be
reft of moral, physical and intellectual vigor by the
tainted heritage which, like some avenging nemesis,
through the action of an inexorable law, surely fol
lows the unfortunate offspring of lordling fathers,
who are born as the very dregs from twenty genera
tions of the vice and depravity of kingly courts ?

4 'My dear Fillmore, to these interrogatories I an
swer, No ! A thousand times No ! Ignorance ! A
shameful ignorance of the true object and purpose
of human life, on the part of these misguided girls,
is their only sin. They are well-nigh hopelessly ig
norant of the significance, or even the existence, of
the great basic truths of evolutionary life. They
know not that each age in the series of evolution
grows out of the preceding one ; that each in its or
der is the parent of the next ; that the same is true
of each generation of people. In the midnight dark
ness of their ignorance, they are incapable of know
ing that virtue inherently possesses the germ of per
petuity. They can neither understand nor heed the
warning cry of history, which proves that crime and
depravity have in themselves the seeds of natural

SOLARIS FARM. 175

death. They have never read history's tragic story
of the total extinction of the royal houses of Capet,
Valois, Tudor, Stuart and Bourbon ; — a story which
demonstrates so conclusively the avenging results
that follow the crimes of royal fathers.

"To redeem these girls from such dense ignor
ance ; to rescue them from the thralldom of such a
fashionable sin, which threatens to become a fad ; to
open their eyes to the horrible consequences which
follow such mesalliances, is a work so important as
to demand the immediate attention and united effort
of a host of America's patriot mothers.

"Pardon me, dear Fillmore, for devoting so much
space in my letter to this particular topic. I feel
sure you will kindly excuse any excess of fervor
which may have marked the expression of my indig
nation. Because you so well understand the inten
sity of my devotion to the broadly progressive prin
ciples of our matchless republic, you may, conse
quently, guess the full measure of my scorn for this
foolish, title-hunting class of creatures who, like silly
moths, blindly sacrifice themselves in folly's funereal
flame. The bare idea of marriage to gain a foreign
title has always been exceedingly repugnant to me.
With passing years, I am each day more thankful
that since my early childhood there has been buried
deep in my heart, a determination that when the time
came for me to select a husband, the only title of the
one chosen should be the stamp of honor which
marked him as a true type of an American citizen —
a real American genius ; a truly noble soul, perfectly
and beautifully expressed by a harmonious combina
tion of physical and intellectual development !

' ' Fortunate the day for me when that lucky adver
tisement brought you to my side, as a trusty, capable

176 SOLARIS FARM.

co-worker, whom I have learned to respect, to admire
and to love. My dreams have been realized. I have
found my ideal. You may fearlessly trust in the ab
solute truth of your assertion that ' the compass of
my love is constancy ! '

"Now my hero ! My ideal of a gallant Knight of
Most Excellent Agriculture, whose nodding plumes,
of tassels of corn, artistically interwoven with splen
did pompons of waving wheat, barley, oats and rye
have so dazzled my eyes and charmed my heart ; hav
ing chanted my song of love, I hasten to assure you
that your last report concerning the administration
of the affairs of the farm, has pleased me greatly.
I think the progress achieved in so short a time, is
truly marvelous ! Only my Fillmore could have ac
complished so much ! I am full of curiosity about
the details. When I come, you must be prepared to
answer a host of questions ; to go with me on many
excursions of discovery before I shall have com
pleted my tour of agricultural investigation.

"I approve of the disposition you have made of
my portrait. Of course my personal pride is grati
fied by the sincere admiration and praise it has exci
ted. I am happy in the knowledge that it has proved
so efficacious as a talisman of good fortune for the
farm. I think I understand your reasons for the
feeling that my individuality should be in some way
directly interwoven with the destiny of the farm.

" Reasoning from the peculiar environments which
so affect our lives, I realize more fully each day that
my personal interest in every step toward its final
success, must necessarily be quite equal to your own.

' ' I am delighted with the idea of being present at
your first Arbor day celebration. I hope there is to
be in the order of exercises an oration which you are.

SOLARIS FARM. 177

to deliver. If so, I know you will not disappoint
me ! I am prepared to prophesy that you will do
yourself justice, do credit to Solaris and at the same
time you will cover the subject with a halo of glory.
Such a result seems assured when I consider the ex
traordinary interest which was aroused by your lec
tures on forestry. This signal conquest of your elo
quence has gratified my pride very much. I am
strongly impressed with the vast importance of this
tree-planting school, which you are about to insti
tute at Solaris. The success which you have won
in the preliminary work is so promising, that I am
sure you have undertaken a task which is worthy of
your genius. In my judgment, you have already
demonstrated your ability to accomplish many won
derful things. Great opportunities are before you.
By the force of your logic, by the earnestness of
your eloquence, you will be able to instill and to
permanently fix in the minds of our people — both pa
rents and children — the true progressive principles
of American citizenship. You will thus enable them
to perceive the serious import of the responsibilities
which, like a mantle of power, descends upon them,
as the representative working units of this great re
public. You can so inspire them that they will be
eager and proud to take up with honor the burden of
these responsibilities. You can so change and ele
vate the lives of these people and a multitude of
others, that first they shall become masters of them
selves ; later, masters of the republic ; through the
controlling force, the imperial dominancy of scien
tifically developed, symmetrical minds ; whose intel
lectual, ethical, inspirational, logical and construc
tive power, combined as an elevating agency, shall
raise the republic of the future to still more com

178 SOLARIS FARM.

manding heights. To accomplish these things, is
the glorious beginning of a great career ! In visions
of your life work, it comes to me that this prepara
tory work on the farm is but the introduction to a
more important mission, in the vastly wider field of
a near future. In this coming work we shall stand
side by side. Hand in hand, with hearts united by
the bonds of a supreme love, we shall go forth armed
with the power to overcome and to conquer the great
hosts of ignorance and selfishness which so hinder
the world's progress.

''Really, my true love, although this letter is so
long, I cannot close it without again expressing my
appreciation of your soul-satisfying letter ; so laden
with the fragrance, the benediction of your love ; so
potent with the charm of happiness for me. To its
benign influence my heart responds by the awaken
ing of the highest and best emotions of my spiritual
nature. Written in clear, plain English, it appeals
to me as a letter of such sterling intelligence as only
my ideal of a lover could write. How different it is
from the soft, sweet nonsense of fashionable fops ;
the effusive gush of poetical dudes.

"Now, I must say to you Good bye, my sweetheart;
Remember that waking or dreaming, I love you truly.
Only you, so dear to me — you, so generous, so noble,
so good. Bright are the links of love's golden chain
which time cannot sever. Constancy, our love shall
bless, now and forever. May the sweet guardian
spirits who guide your footsteps, keep you safely un
til we meet again, is the ever-present thought which
is inspired by love's whisper in the heart of your
devoted, FERN FEN WICK."

SOLARIS FARM. 179

CHAPTER XXVI.

FERN FENWICK ARRIVES AT SOLARIS.

PERN FENWICK, accompanied by Mrs. Bainbridge,
arrived at Solaris on the afternoon of the third day
previous to the tree-planting festival. When the
train reached the station, they were met by Fillmore
Flagg accompanied by George and Gertrude Gerrish,
the committee representing the farm company. With
this escort to the village, they were soon installed in
a handsome suite of rooms, beautifully decorated and
furnished for their reception.

After a late luncheon, Fern Fenwick gave a private
interview to Fillmore Flagg. During this interview,
which lasted more than two hours, matters both of
business and of love were discussed : love, however,
claimed the lion's share of the time. Very soon, by
mutual consent, the major part of the business was
postponed until after the tour of the farm, planned
for the following day, had been completed. Then
with a sigh of relief, they resigned themselves to
the sway of that potent charm of blending magnetic
and spiritual auras, which so swiftly transports re
united lovers to a paradise of their own.

In accordance with previous plans, the next day
was spent by the visitors in driving about the farm.
The first motor carriage was occupied by Mrs. Bain-
bridge accompanied by George and Gertrude Gerrish,
Fillmore Flagg and Fern Fenwick following in ar
other. Pursuing a carefully arranged program, all
points of interest were visited ; the barns and stable s
herds and flocks, the meadows, the cotton and grain
fields, poultry yards, dairy, apiary, gardens, mills,

180 SOLARIS FARM.

store-houses, packing-houses, factory buildings, the
brick works and pottery, the clay -beds, stone-quar
ries, coal and other mines.

This tour of inspection, which occupied nearly the
whole day, proved very interesting to Fern Fenwick.
With her note-book in hand, and her keen eyes on
the alert to catch every salient point, she kept our
hero busy answering a host of questions. It was a
long, happy day for him ! To sit so near her, to look
into her smiling eyes, to listen to the musical tones
of her voice, to answer her swiftly spoken questions,
to respond to the pressure of her gloved hand upon
his arm as she directed his attention to some particu
lar object ; all seemed to him such a delicious bit of
experience, that he almost wished it might go on
forever !

In the evening the reception given in honor of the
Patroness of the farm, was held in the large hall of
education and amusement. In this hall, which was
handsomely decorated for the event, the people of
Solaris were assembled. They were a unit in eager
ness to give expression to demonstrations of delight
when, for the first time, they were permitted to greet
the one they wished to honor : a woman whose name
they reverenced as the title of the noblest guest they
could ever hope to entertain. George and Gertrude
Gerrish, with Mrs. Bainbridge, were already seated
on the stage, when Fillmore Flagg appeared, escort
ing Fern Fenwick from the waiting Yoom. Moved
by one dominant impulse, the entire audience arose
to receive her. The repeated cheers of welcome
were intensified by the accompaniment of a fleecy
cloud of waving handkerchiefs.

Our heroine was well worthy the ovation : richly
and artistically gowned, she was a perfect picture of

SOLARIS FARM. 181

loveliness ! Her cheeks flushed with the excitement
of such an unexpected demonstration, her beautiful
eyes flashing with the inspiration of her wonderful
enthusiasm, her perfect figure proudly erect with the
grace and dignity of an all-conquering magnetic
presence, she captured the hearts of the people even
before she had opened her lovely lips to address them.

Warned by a gesture from Fillmore, the cheering
ceased and the audience became seated. He then in
troduced Fern Fenwick by a neat little speech which
provoked another storm of applause more demon
strative than the first.

When order was again restored, at a signal from
George Gerrish the double quartet of mixed voices,
which had been selected from the singers of the
musical club, came forward and, in a style which re
flected much credit on the club, gave a song of wel
come composed for this particular reception, and en
titled ; "She comes, she comes, she comes to us ; our
wise and lovely patroness." This song, which crea
ted a real sensation, was followed by an eloquent ad
dress of welcome delivered by George Gerrish in his
official capacity, as president of the company. His
remarks were seconded and emphasized most vigor
ously by long continued demonstrations of approval
from the assembled members.

In response, Fern Fenwick replied at some length
in her most charming manner. Turning to George
Gerrish, she said :

"To you, the president, and through you, to the
officers, members and children of the company here
assembled, I offer my sincere thanks for the honor
conferred, and for the pleasure given to me by this
delightful reception. The sentiments of kindly
greeting, of keen appreciation, of admiring approv-

182 SOLARIS FARM.

al, so beautifully expressed in your address of wel
come, have touched me deeply. I am so profound
ly moved, that my heart overflows with grateful
emotions ! Equally charming, and even more gra
cious to me were the words and music of the song
which your sweet singers have rendered so artisti
cally. These testimonials have so wonderfully im
pressed me that I can not forget them ! As the
years come and go, I shall cherish the bright memo
ries of this eventful evening, as added jewels with
which to mark and adorn the shining links, inter
woven with the chain of my experience in life.
These memories shall also serve to strengthen my
already intense interest in this most extraordinary
farm. A farm with such a wide range of improve
ments ; with such an imposing collection of large
well constructed buildings ; with so many profitable
allied industries in the full tide of successful oper
ation ; with a general equipment so magnificent, that
at every turn I am astonished and delighted. I now
understand why and how you have succeeded in
transforming the hated drudgery of farm labor into
such a pleasant, desirable occupation.

"Since the beginning of the enterprise, my interest
in the work has been constantly stimulated by the
detailed accounts contained in the full weekly re
ports furnished by your general manager. These
reports from time to time, I have studied carefully.
Therefore I came here expecting much. However,
after my tour of inspection, I hasten to assure you,
that I was not all prepared to find such an ideal
farm, already in successful operation ! A farm with
proportions so generous, an equipment so complete,
and a future so promising ; that when I pause to con.
template the magical changes wrought upon it in the

SOLARIS FARM. 183

brief space of thirty months, I am filled with admir
ation for its wonder-working, epoch-making people !
I consider it a coveted honor to be known as the pat
roness of such a grand institution. People of Sol
aris, I am happy to be thus identified with you. I
am proud of you and your work ! A work which
shall yet cause millions to rejoice ! You cannot
guess; no one can even estimate, the exceeding value
of this work as a shining example of what properly
organized labor can accomplish. You have suc
ceeded far beyond my expectations ! Do not waver
or turn aside for one moment ! Go forward bravely;
be strong and steadfast ; be encouraged with the as
surance that all times, I am ready and willing to as
sist you in every possible way ! Success with her
golden crown waits to reward you ! All the world is
watching and waiting for the victory, which you
have already won. Therefore, in the name of hu
manity, I am justified here and now, in thanking
you for this superb lesson in unselfish co-operation.
This lesson in self evolution, which you have given
to the world, is a result on your part as individuals,
of a wise exercise of mutual trust and confidence in
each other ; reinforced by the combined industry,
zeal, persistence and skill displayed in your noble
efforts. By such efforts you have made the name of
Solaris justly famous throughout the length and
breadth of this Republic !

"In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, and friends, allow
me to again express my thanks for your greetings
of welcome, and for every demonstration of loving
appreciation which you have so generously showered
upon me."

While the hall still rang with the plaudits of a de
lighted people; before Fern Fen wick could move

184 SOLARIS FARM.

towards her seat, George and Gertrude Gerrish and
Fillmore Flagg all hastened to her side, to offer con
gratulations on the eloquence and excellence of her
impromptu address. To the observer, it was plainly
evident that the effect of such a stirring speech on
the assembled co-operators was unusually impres
sive. They seemed to be inspired with a deeper rev
erence and a more perfect loyalty of devotion for this
remarkable woman, who had so charmed them by
the powder of her eloquence. Swayed by the inten
sity of this deep feeling which could not well express
itself in noisy cheering; they eagerly pressed for
ward in a quiet orderly way toward the stage, where
George Gerrish was waiting to introduce them in
dividually to our heroine, the patroness of the farm.
Smiling graciously as they approached and were
presented, she took each one by the hand in such an
earnest cordial manner, that all feelings of shyness
or embarassment were quickly banished. After the
exchange of a few words of pleasant greeting, they
quietly returned to their seats. As the reception
progressed, many of the members improved the brief
moments in expressing their grateful appreciation,
for the words of praise which she had so enthusi
astically bestowed upon them, in a speech they could
never forget.

When all were again seated, George Gerrish an
nounced that the program for the evening would
close with three short selections, to be given by vol
unteer members from the ranks of the musical and
dramatic clubs. With this part of the entertainment
finished, before the people could be dismissed, Fern
Fenwick arose to bid them good night, and to thank
them for such a charming reception, which she pro
nounced "simply delightful ! "

SOLARIS FARM. 185

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE FESTIVAL.

FORTUNATELY for the tree-planters, the day of
the celebration at Solaris, proved exceptionally fine !
No one could resist the exhilarating tonic of such a
perfect day ! A day made more glorious by a cloud
less expanse of blue sky, a flood of golden sunlight,
and breezes, soft as the balmy breath of gentle
spring could make them !

The tools and the potted trees, each labeled with
the name of the planter, were hauled in wagons
from the nursery to the site of the future forest,
where the ground had already been prepared to re
ceive them.

At nine o'clock in the morning the band in the
public square began to play, as the signal for the
people to assemble. At ten the procession was
formed, ready to march to the planting grounds.
First: the band under the leadership of Gilbert Ger-
rish. Second: the children in alternating fours of
boys and girls. Third: the adults in the same order;
followed by the carriages with the President, the
Patroness, Mrs. Bainbridge, Fillmore Flagg and
Gertrude Gerrish.

Having reached the grounds, the procession was
massed into a square of close columns. The ranks
were divided into planting classes of twenty, with an
instructor for each class. After the classification,
the double quartet of mixed voices, sang a hymn to
the forest ; the assembly joining in the chorus. As
the square broke up, the members of each class,
carrying tools and plants, followed the teacher to

186 SOLARIS FARM.

the particular planting grounds prepared for them.
At a given signal, three blasts from the bugle, the
work began, and went merrily forward, with much
vigor and a vast deal of lively chatter. In just
twenty minutes, the planting was finished and the
square reformed. The children altogether as a cho
rus, then gave "An Ode to Growing Trees," which
they rendered -so sweetly and so effectively, that
they earned a great deal of well deserved praise.
The order for the return march was sounded — the
procession quickly re-formed and returned to the vil
lage in the same order in which it came.

A twenty -minute band-concert, given in the large
dancing pavillion in the center of the public square,
came next, and closed the order of exercises for the
forenoon.

An intermission until one o'clock was declared.

Promptly at one o'clock the people were again as
sembled in the great hall of education and amuse
ment, to hear the oration. The hall itself was hand
somely decorated for the occasion, with a profusion
of flags and ribbons. The roomy platform was
transformed into a garden of verdure, by a brilliant
array of ferns, flowers, palms, potted plants and
young trees. Seated near the center of the platform
were Fern Fenwick, Mrs. Bainbridge, Gertrude Ger-
rish, Fillmore Flagg and George Gerrish. The lat
ter, as the president of the farm company, in a few
well chosen words, introduced General Manager
Flagg, as the orator of the day.

Inspired by the cheers which greeted him, happy
in the presence of his beloved Fern ; yet with all
alert, and confident of his complete mastery of the
subject ; our hero never before seemed quite so
handsome as when he began to speak.

SOLARIS FARM. 187

CHAPTER XXVIII. .

THE ORATION.

"PEOPLE of Solaris, I thank you for the honor of
having been chosen as the orator, for this our first
Arbor-day Celebration ! I assure you, that I am
both proud and happy to serve you in that capacity !

"In the beginning, let us consider the art of tree-
planting, from the stand-point of an acorn, as being
a typical nut or tree-bearing seed, such as I now
hold in my hand.

1 ' This tiny nut, with such a smooth hard shell of
polished brown, contains a kernel with magical pos
sibilities. Within this kernel, closely packed and
safely cradled, lies the embryo oak. So small and
so insignificant is this nut, that one may travel for
months over land and sea, with the possible ancestor
of a half-dozen future oak-forests snugly tucked
away in some inside pocket. This, too, without ever
once receiving a demand from the lynx-eyed custom
officials, for the payment of either import or export
duties upon it. Half way round the globe, from the
spot occupied by its parent tree, this highly -pol
ished, much-traveled nut, if given the proper con
ditions, will at once commence the mysterious trans
formation process, which marks the beginning of the
life and growth of another oak tree. This growth,
under favorable circumstances, may continue for the
historical period of ten centuries. Ministering mean
while, to the needs of forty passing generations of
people. Reproducing itself, perhaps a million times
in the aggregate, by the enormous annual crops of
acorns it may have borne. What a history of mar-

188 SOLARIS FARM.

vels, is the history of such a growth ! As it is with
the oak, so it is in a large measure, with all other
trees which are produced from seeds.

"This fascinatingly mysterious process of passing
from seed to plant, — from passive to active life, we
have watched with keen interest and growing pleas
ure, as from week to week, in the seed beds and
nursery rows of our tree-garden, it has steadily pro
gressed, under the varying conditions of sunshine
and storm. Having reached a suitable size for trans
planting, we have this morning commenced the ac
tual work of tree planting, by carefully placing the
young trees in the proper soil and location, where
they may complete the sturdy growth they have so
well begun. The preparatory work, we began some
months ago, w^hen as individuals, we selected the
three trees, of some one chosen variety, which we
especially desired to -plant in forest formation, on
the occasion of this festival.

"By the months of .thoughtful care and attention
which wre have given to these trees, we have gained
a personal interest in them which we cannot lose.
In this initiative work, I am convinced that we have
wisely established such a broad foundation of gen
eral interest in forestry and kindred topics, that
sooner or later, it will lead us to a complete mastery
of the whole subject. The individual interest thus
established, will continue to expand until it embraces
the entire tree-family of the world. By constantly
adding to our stores of knowledge in this direction,
we shall be surprised to find how much we have ex
tended our field of pleasure. In the same ratio,
there will come to us a corresponding increase of af
fection and appreciation for our benefactors, the
trees ; a solace in the sojourn of life, so generously

SOLARIS FARM. 189

supplied by Mother Nature.

"The location of Solaris as an experimental tree-
planting farm, is particularly fortunate. It possess
es a soil and climate which will promote the perfect
growth of more than one hundred different varieties
of trees. Among these, we find a majority of the
valuable timber and nut-bearing trees of the world.
Consequently, a very wide field of experimentation
awaits our efforts. Let us improve our splendid
opportunities so industriously, that a wide spread
interest in forestry, may follow and become firmly
established in the minds of the people of our Re
public.

"By way of an introduction to the general subject,
of the importance of trees, as an adj unct to the pro
gress, welfare and civilization of mankind. I wish
to relate to you the story of my first great lesson in
the seductive lore of forestry.

"Near the beginning of the last decade of the
Nineteenth Century, in the year of 1893, it was my
good fortune to visit the World's Columbian Exposi
tion at Chicago. I was then a lad of fifteen years,
full of boyish enthusiasm, in the enjoyment of my
first vacation from the preparatory school, where I
was being fitted for my collegiate course.

"I was born and reared on my father's farm, on
the broad rolling prairies of Nebraska ; up to that
time I had never been far from home ; as a conse
quence my knowledge of growing trees was limited
to the following fast-growing varieties, which were
planted and cultivated by prairie farmers for fuel,
fencing and storm-protection. I will name these
varieties in the order of their value for fuel and tim
ber. White ash, soft maple, cottonwood and white
willow. At a later period I learned that perhaps

190 SOLARIS FARM.

with the exception of white ash, the timber fur
nished by these trees, is considered valueless, in the
markets of the world.

" Under such circumstances you may imagine my
astonishment when I first beheld that wonderfully
unique, Forestry Building ; with its bristling array
of tree-trunk flag poles. Try first to picture in your
mind's eye, a building in the form of a parallelo
gram, large enough to afford two acres of floor-
space; with the first story surrounded on every side
by a wide, open veranda: with a full length second
story one hundred feet wide, rising gracefully from
the central roof of the first ; altogether, completing
a design of exterior so boldly rustic in its general
effect, as to suggest the idea of trees and forests at
every point ; then, you may get the delightfully
novel effect, which the architect conveyed to my
mind as I approached this curiously fascinating
structure. A closer inspection increased the rustic
effect of the general design. The main outside walls,
were composed of thousands of wide, bark-coated
slabs, cut from the choice typical trees of our Ameri
can forests.

' ' The wide roof, was in itself an ideal creation ; it
was thickly covered with curving tiles of rough
bark, in alternating layers of the varying kinds,
which formed a picturesque combination redolent
with the spicy resinous odors of birch, basswood,
hemlock and fir.

"Completely encircling the building, with feet firm
ly planted on its solid stone foundation, rising to the
roof through the floor of the veranda at its outer
edge, were the thickly planted supporting pillars.
These pillars like a long line of watchful sentinels,
were placed in trios. The two outside pillars of

SOLARIS FARM. 191

each trio, were only separated from the middle one
by a few inches of space, and were as nearly as pos
sible, ten inches in diameter. The one in the center
was much larger and held the post of honor as the
flag bearer of its triumvirate. By pushing its way
through the roof it became a huge flag pole, fifty feet
from base to tip, with a beautiful banner proudly
waving from its ball crowned summit. These pillars,
both large and small, were bark-coated below the
roof. Each one had been carefully selected for its
symmetrical straightness, as a representative tree
from the different forests of the world. Altogether,
they formed a most interesting collection, to which
might well be devoted, many hours of admiring in
spection, by every lover of trees.

' 'A wide lattice work of bark-laden tree limbs, of a
uniform size completed the charmingly rustic cornice,
which, like some endless curtain seemed to hang
suspended from the caves of this bark- thatched roof.

''Having sufficiently studied the exterior beauties
of this remarkable building, of such arborescent
magnificence; let us mount the steps to the broad,
breezy veranda. Pausing a moment to inhale the
refreshing coolness of the crisp air; and to admire
the wave curving sparkle of the blue waters of Lake
Michigan, we then pass to the shining portal of
richly colored, highly polished woods, which form
the main entrance. Here, covering the entire avail
able floor-space, piled high in splendid profusion; we
behold the garnered riches from the forests of the
world.

"I shall not attempt to describe my varying emo
tions of wonder and delight, as I wandered for hours
through a bewildering maze of the wonderful ex
hibits, which formed this unrivalled collection of

192 SOLARIS FARM.

choice woods. As I advanced, my admiration for its
variety and extent continued to grow. I began to
perceive that, spread out before me, was the oppor
tunity of a life time, which, if properly utilized
would prove for me the permanent foundation of an
education on the subject of timber, trees and forestry
products. With this realization came the resolve,
that I would devote time enough to each exhibit, to
permit me to examine it in detail, leisurely and
carefully.

"The separate exhibits from the States of the
Union and from other nations, were skillfully classi
fied and so artistically arranged, as to show in the
most effective manner the lovely grain, color and
finished beauty, of the different woods.

"All the valuable timbers were represented by
three specimens. The first and second, were pol
ished planks displaying the grain-finish, of both
radial and transverse sections. The third, a cross
section or disc, showing the heart, body-wood, sap-
wood and bark ; the full size of the tree represented.
These discs proved by far the most interesting part
of the exhibit. To me they were a revelation ! They
at once introduced me to the individuality of the
tree. I could read the history of its life as I scan
ned the ever- widening circle of annual rings, which,
from center to circumference, marked the slow
growth of ages, as the tree advanced from infancy
to maturity.

"By means of these polished discs, I could touch
and become personally acquainted with the precious,
the famous, and the historical trees of the world. The
mighty teak and deodar from India. The giant ma
hogany from Central America. The olive of Pales
tine. The cedars of Lebanon. The ancient oaks

SOLARIS FARM. 193

of Dodona. The magnificent dye-wood and rose
wood of Brazil. The majestic live-oak of Florida.
The druidical-oaks of England. The smooth, elastic
bamboo, which by its size and strength becomes so
useful in house-building, in both China and Japan.
The towering spruces and sugar pines of our Pacific
Coast. The great elms of New England. The just
ly famous, white pines of Michigan, Minnesota and
Wisconsin. The wonderful spice-woods of Java and
Ceylon. The curious soap and rubber trees of Bra
zil. The tall sugar maples and smooth, symmetrical
beeches of New York. The great hemlocks of
Pennsylvania. The stately cypress, the royal tulip
tree, and the beautiful evergreen white holly, of our
southern forests. The highly prized black-walnut
of Tennessee and North Carolina. The fruitful,
free-growing chestnut, so common all over the Un
ited States. Finally, that towering king of all trees,
the matchless mammoth redwood of California.*

"These redwoods are such veritable giants in size,
that the half disc displayed in the California Section,
with its thick ring of bark on the rounding side
uppermost, stood sixteen feet high. From the huge
trunk of this tree came the accompanying plank of
such extraordinary dimensions, that a placard pro
claimed it the largest plank the world ever saw.
This plank was five inches thick, twenty-five feet
long and sixteen feet nine inches wide; containing
about two thousand feet of lumber, board measure.

"In the Brazilian Section I found a large disc, ac
companied by a specimen branch, with the leaves,
flowers and fruit of a most remarkable tree. To
this tree, the world owes a debt of gratitude for its
generous unfailing supply of a rich wholesome food.
Almost every child through the sense of sight, touch

194 SOLARIS FARM.

and taste, is familiar with that peculiar, triangular-
shaped, sharp-edged, black-coated nut of commerce,
with such a delicious kernel, known as the brazil nut.
Very few however, know anything of the tree which
bears them, or how they are attached to the branches
from which they are suspended. As it is a matter of
such general interest to both old and young, I shall
take the liberty of devoting a few moments to a
brief description of this gigantic tree, which the
botanist has named 'The Bertholletia Excelsa. '

' ' These wonderful trees grow most abundantly in
the valleys of the Amazons, and generally through
out tropical America. In size and beauty, they rank
as monarchs of their native forests. They attain an
average height of one hundred and thirty feet,
having smooth cylindrical, beautifully proportioned
bodies ; which often have the astonishing diameter
of fourteen feet, when measured fifty feet above the
ground. Like columns in some vast cathedral, these
majestic representatives of the vegetable kingdom,
raise their massive trunks one hundred feet toward
heaven, before they commence to branch out, and to
form a medium sized, symmetrical top. At this
height grow the flowers and fruits.

' ' The fruits are globular, with a diameter of five
or six inches. Each fruit contains within its black,
woody, shell, from eighteen to twenty-five closely
packed seeds or brazil-nuts. These fruits, as they
ripen, fall from their lofty position. At the proper
season they are collected, broken open and marketed
by the Indians, who roam through these dark,
gloomy, miasmatic forests. The extraordinary abun
dance of the crop may be measured by the fact,
that one port alone on the Amazon River, exports an
nually more than fifty millions of these excellent nuts.

SOLARIS FARM. 195

"Brazil-nuts are largely eaten as a nutritious and
palatable food, by a multitude of people in many
lands. They yield a generous supply of fine bland
oil, which is highly prized for use in cookery, and
also for lubricating all kinds of delicate machinery.

' ' The timber furnished by these fruitful and beauti
ful trees, is light and durable, easily worked, well
adapted to the purpose of boat-building ; especially
canoes of th<^ largest size. Indeed ! I may add as
a final tribute to these noble trees, that -they are the
peculiar product of the American Continent, of
which it may well be proud ! They have bodies so
tall, so straight, so large, so symmetrical, so free
from knots, and so easily dug out, that the largest
ship used by the hardy and fearless old Vikings of
the Eleventh Century, could easily have been fash
ioned from a single one !

"In connection with the main exhibit in the
Forestry Building itself, I visited and examined
the magnificent and astonishing timber displays
shown in the State buildings of California, Oregon,
and Washington. These exhibits were in every way
worthy of those three great states of the Pacific
Coast ; they also served to largely increase the pre
ponderance of the exhibit from the United States as
a whole, over that of all other nations combined.
The demonstrated extent, variety and wealth of our
timber supply, was a matter of profound astonish
ment to visitors from other lands ; while at the same
time these things were equally a source of surprise
and pride to every citizen of the Republic who saw
them.

"After a most delightfully well spent week, de
voted almost entirely to forestry productions, I was
prepared to sum up my impressions of the signifi-

196 SOLARIS FARM.

cance and value of the knowledge I had gained in my
first lesson. It was plain to me that the magnitude
and importance of the subject, was but little under
stood or appreciated, by the average American citi
zen. I saw that our people were very much in need
of some great object lesson like the forestry exhibit
of the Columbian Exposition, to make them properly
realize the immensity of our debt of gratitude to
Mother Nature for her munificent gift of trees to
mankind.

' ' I shall now conclude my story of the Forestry
Exposition, by naming from the exhibit the following,
as a few of the many things of use and value, which
we owe to our benefactors, the trees ; things -which
are so necessary to our comfort and happiness,
which in so many ways, affect the progress, welfare
and civilization of the world's people.

4 'Among the more important gifts from the trees
I shall place lumber and shingles, used in the con
struction of houses, barns and all kinds of habitable
or industrial buildings ; bridges, boats, ships and
sailing -vessels of all kinds ; furniture, fencing and
a great variety of farming utensils. Under the
head of fuel, I may mention fire-wood and charcoal.
In the class of vehicles we have wagons and all kinds
of carriages from the stage coach to the pullman
palace car. Some kind of lumber or timber enters
very largely into the construction of almost every
kind of machinery. In the miscellaneous group we
find wood- alcohol, dye-wood, medicinal barks, roots
and galls ; precious gums, resins and all of the
spices ; the various kinds of excelsior used for pack
ing, bedding and upholstery ; wood-pulp and paper,
inlaid work, vegetable ivory, and cocoanut shells ;
the entire series of willow ware, and wooden, or

SOLARIS FARM. 197

hollow ware. In food products, we are confronted
by a most astonishing array of edible sprouts, ber
ries, delicious fruits and nutritious nuts, forming
altogether a multitude of things which, in civilized
life, we could not possibly do without.

"In considering the impressions conveyed to our
minds by growing trees, which inherently possess
a sturdy vitality, that can resist the vicissitudes of
passing ages ; we instinctively recognize them as
nature's noblest gift to man. As majestic monarchs,
in the empire of plant life, they appeal to us as com
panions, which become dearer with the associations
of each passing year, until love for them becomes a
feeling almost akin to worship.

"This worshipful feeling, no doubt, comes to us as
a heritage from a remote ancestry. In the days of
ancient story, groves of noble trees offered primitive
man, nature's grandest and most appropriate cathe
drals, for the celebration of his worshipful rites.
Is it a matter of wonder, that he unhesitatingly
accorded to them, the distinction of being sacred ?
The emotional nature of this primitive man was
a mystery which he could neither understand nor
control. Often, he suffered untold tortures from the
agonizing perturbations to which it easily became a
prey. Hidden in the deep shade of his sacred grove,
in his happier moments, the sighing of each passing
breeze through his leafy canopy, become to his un
trained ear, the whispered blessing of nature's pla
cated God ! When the dark pall of the Storm King
shrouded all things with a terrifying gloom, the
restless moaning of such a mass of writhing boughs,
lashed by the fury of the blast, became the angry
shriek of the Demons of Destruction, which left him
prostrate and trembling in the throes of a paroxysm

198 SOLARIS FARM.

of worshipful fear. Analyzed, these actions show
the result of man's environment.

"By the way of a contrast, and as a testimonial to
the planetary growth of man's emotional nature,
gained from the ages of progress ; let us question
modern man as he leans confidingly, in a contempla
tive mood, against the broad trunk of some giant
of the forest. With uncovered head, he muses in
silence; he senses a vague feeling of awe for this
magnificent specimen of matured life in the vege
table world. With every sense attuned to the over
tones and undertones, produced by the vibrations of
nature's harp ; he catches the rythmic song of the
sappy currents, as they swiftly fly to feed the swell
ing cells, where the building energy of their tiny
hearts of protoplasm, ceaselessly changes the ele
ments of soil and sunlight, into the woody fibre of
this mighty tree. How beautiful ! How like the
complicated mechanism of the human body ! Wonder-
ingly he questions ! Can it be possible, that the
pulsing energy of the protoplasmic life of the tree,
is identical with that of man, and all other forms of
cosmic life ? Does each great throb of the planetary
heart, re-energize and move in unison, the protoplas
mic centers of all forms of life ? Who shall say?

"In discussing the peculiar fitness of our present
organization, to deal effectually with the question of
tree planting, we discover, that in the co-operative
association of so many people, we possess a marked
advantage over the small farmer, which enables us
to treat large tracts of land as a single farm ; by de
voting all of the rough, stony ground, steep hill sides,
unsightly gullies and areas of poor, gravelly soils, to
the purposes of timber and fruit culture.

' ' Harmoniously united, we are financially and in-

SOLARIS FARM. 199

tellectually stronger ; less influenced or retarded by
motives of selfishness and greed ; surrounded by con
ditions of easy comfort ; armed with skill by study
and experience ; and withal inspired by a knowledge
of the great necessity for replacing our forests ; we
are exceptionally well prepared to carry forward this
great work, so successfully and to such an extent,
that a few decades hence our hill sides and mountains,
shall be re-clothed with beautiful forests of much
finer trees — all choice timber — vastly more valuable
than the original stock.

"By more systematic methods of terracing the
steep hills ; by close planting of the young trees,
with varieties selected by reason of their value for
lumber, timber, nuts and fruit ; by a judicious thin
ning out of these young trees so soon as they have
grown to a useful size ; a profitable crop of timber
may be secured each year, with a positive benefit to
the remaining trees. This operation may be repeated
many times, before a partial replanting becomes nec
essary. By an extended use of these methods, the
excellence of the timber supply may be doubled,
while the aggregate yield will be trebled. The land
scape will be beautified and permanently changed.
Barren, unprofitable hills, and rough unsightly moun
tain tracts, rejoicing in a new growth of beautiful
verdure-clad trees, will become objects of general ad
miration ; while at the same time, the value of these
lands, as a source of wealth, will be increased a
thousand fold.

"As these forests continue to grow, the shade deep
ens, the store of retained moisture increases, per
ceptible changes in the climate are effected ; the evils
of flood, erosion and drought are checked ; the soil
made deeper and richer; the rainfall largely in-

200 SOLARIS FARM.

creased ; the climatic conditions become more genial,
and the cooling, drouth- dispelling rains become more
frequent.

''The interesting and beautiful process, by which
these changes are accomplished, may be briefly stated
as follows : With the growth of each year, the area
of the leafy surfaces of these forest trees is enor
mously extended. Measured by the same increasing
ratio, many additional thousands of tons of moisture
are pumped up and given to the winds in the form of
a fine vapor, by the tireless industry of these lovely
leaves. This vapor is taken up by the clouds —
nature's aerial reservoirs. Soon this treasure of
waters thus accumulated, is restored to the thirsty
earth by a largely increased rainfall. Autumnal
frosts ripen and loosen each crop of leaves ; they
fall silently to the ground, where they quickly form
a thick, soft carpet of ever increasing thickness.
Through the action of shade and moisture, the under
surface of this carpet becomes a layer of fine leaf
mold, which in turn offers rich food for the suste
nance of millions of tiny feeding rootlets from the
trees of the forest. The closely interwoven fibre of
these rootlets, everywhere forms a strong web for
the carpet, which firmly holds in place the soft,
porous, underlying soil, safely protecting it from the
destructive erosion which, especially on the steeper
slopes, swiftly follows the dashing violence of
heavy rain storms. Gradually this leafy carpet
grows in strength and thickness ; like some great
sponge it sucks up and retains the waters of the
snows of winter, with those of the increased rain- fall
of summer.

"Thousands of mountain torrents, the beginnings
of destructive floods, are thus checked, absorbed and

SOLARIS FARM. 201

shorn of their disintegrating energies. The gar
nered waters from this wonderful leafy sponge, slow
ly percolate through the soil, to reappear in a multi
tude of living springs of pure sparkling water.
From these springs gently flow the tiny rivulets,
which in turn become the full streams that gladden
the plains and valleys throughout the long scorch
ing months of summer.

''By a close analysis of the beneficial results which
follow the annual recurrence of these beautiful pro
cesses, we may form a correct estimate of the vast
importance of this tree-planting labor, to which this
day, we gladly offer our best energies and our best
thought. We begin to perceive the magnitude of
the blessing which may be conferred on mankind,
in general and on the agriculturist in particular, by
the continued work of covering our hills and moun
tains with valuable forests.

* ' We have discovered from nature the secret of a
power that shall enable us to control many of our
environmental conditions. We hold the key to the
solution of a great problem, which for the past
quarter of a century, has puzzled the brightest
minds and best thinkers among our statesmen. The
problem of how best to control the devastating
floods, which each year, with increasing power and
violence, continue to destroy hundreds of lives and
millions of dollars worth of property, on the farms
and in the towns and cities throughout the river
valleys of our broad land. For this growing terror,
we hold the cure ! With the completion of this
system of forestry, the floods will disappear. The
interests of our coastwise and inland commerce, will
be greatly extended and benefitted. Many rivers,
with beds choked and obstructed by the unsightly

202 SOLARIS FARM.

rocks and debris deposited by the annual floods,
and for the same reason, dry for many months in
each year, will again become navigable. Perennial
streams, fed by permanent mountain springs, will
serve to keep these rivers with full channels through
out the year.

"The clear water will be free from the lighter
silt which now finds its way to the sea ; slowly fill
ing up the river- mouth harbor, and finally destroy
ing the commerce of the city which depends upon it.
In this way, every individual child or adult, who
plants a tree, aids .directly in the restoring some
distant seaport to its former commercial importance;
and has proudly earned the right to be placed as an
important working member, on the peoples' great
'Committee for Improvement of Rivers and Harbors. '

"Tree-planting, persistent tree-planting, by all
classes of agricultural people, offers the only means
or hope of checking the wide- spread, calamity-pro
ducing floods and erosions, which commenced with
the destruction of our mountain forests. The de
structive process is accelerated with each passing
year. Unchecked, 'it threatens, a few centuries
hence, to rob us of all fertile soil ; to reduce our
hills and mountains to a dreary waste of bare, sun-
scorched rocks : our plains and valleys, to uninhabit
able deserts. United action is therefore imperative !

"Other incentives, worthy of our attention, urge
us to commence the work. By yielding even one-
half of the area of our tillable lands to the needs of
forestry, we have all the richest lands left in the
remaining half. The productiveness and fertility of
these lands is sure to be speedily doubled. " The
amount of labor required to produce the same crops
from the diminished areas, will be reduced one-half.

SOLARIS FARM. 203

A most important consideration !

' ' The third generation of people, after the plant
ing of these forests, will gather from them, such an
abundant harvest of nuts, fruits, and valuable tim
bers, as will more than repay the entire cost of the
land and labor required to produce them ; leaving a
handsome surplus to be devoted to carrying forward
the work on a still larger scale ; in regions less
promising and more remote, even within the borders
of the arid lands. With this lesson before us, how
can we hesitate or falter in our efforts to success
fully carry forward this important work ?

"I wish now, to call your attention to the follow
ing facts regarding the farms and farmers of our
Republic, which altogether offer additional incen
tives for the speedy adoption of co-operative farm
ing on a scale large enough to admit of timber cul
ture, as the only available source of relief. The
significance of these facts has scarcely been con
sidered, by those most deeply interested. The farm
ing lands now owned or controlled by our agricultural
people, represent the accumulated capital or savings
of a life time ; frequently of several generations of
the same family.

"A steady decline in the market values of all farm
products during the past twenty-five years, has in
the same ratio, affected the selling value of the farm
to such an extent, that from forty to fifty per cent of
its value at the commencement of the decline, has
been swept away and lost to the farmer, from the
credit side of his available resources. This alarming
shrinkage, has in the aggregate, amounted to many
millions, yes, billions of dollars ! The financial dis
tress which has followed, has correspondingly affect
ed many other industries. It has been the real cause

204 SOLARIS FARM.

of the forced sale of many fine farms at such ruin
ously low prices, as to sacrifice at one blow, the
savings of a life-time. Each sale of this character
serves to depress the market value of all lands in
that particular locality. In this way the disaster
spreads and gathers additional force.

' 'A very large number of farmers, who have not as
yet been forced to sell their farms, have found them
selves so financially cramped, as to be unable to se
cure the additional lands they had hoped and planned
to purchase for their children. What is the result ?
A most abundant harvest of blasted hopes for the
sons and daughters of our American farms !

"Capital in the hands of shrewd people, is always
on the alert, waiting for such opportunities for in
vestment. These investors through capital wish to
live without effort, upon the proceeds of the labor of
others. They seem to understand clearly, that to
own land, is to own the services of the people who
must have access to the land in order to live. This
is why a land monoply is more to be feared than
other kind. For this reason we may well be alarmed,
as we note from time to time, the large tracts of land
which are being purchased by wealthy individuals,
foreign syndicates, home corporations and land mon
opolists generally, who are quietly operating, while
prices are so abnormally low, to obtain such com
plete control of our valuable agricultural lands, as
will enable them in the near future, by a concert of
action, to raise prices to such a pitch, that practi
cally they would then be beyond the reach of the
ordinary farmer.

"These shrewd, far-seeing monopolists, having
obtained control of the lands in question, can dictate
such rents to all applicants, as will barely enable

SOLARIS FARM. 205

them to live. As a matter of fact, it is quite prob
able that they would much prefer not to rent their
lands, because they could save for their own pockets,
the wages of a great many workers, for at least five
months in each year, by placing five-thousand-acre-
farms in charge of a superintendent ; who with two
assistants, could live on the farm, taking proper
care of the stock, tools and machinery, throughout
the year. During the seven busy months, beginning
about the first of April, transient labor, of the home
less tramp order, could easily be procured to work
by the day, week or month, as the needs of the farm
might demand.

"The growing competition for even this kind of
uncertain employment, would tend constantly to re
duce the wages. The danger from this source has
been fully demonstrated during the past twenty-five
years, by the adoption of this disposition of their
holdings, on the part of a great number of large land
owners. The success of the bonanza farm, has
proved perniciously infectious. Our small farmers,
already in financial distress, cannot hope to compete
with such large farms, so recklessly cropped by the
monopolist for the largest possible cash returns,
without regard for the future condition of the soil.
To double the capital invested in five years' time, is
the only concern of the investor. Whatever the
land will sell for thereafter, is only so much addition
al profit.

"We cannot close our eyes to these warning facts.
They foretell the coming whirlwind of disaster. We
may be sure that, if these things are allowed to con
tinue without opposition, long before the close of
the twentieth century, our agricultural people will
be reduced individually to the abject serfdom of a

206 SOLARIS FARM.

houseless, homeless day-laborer. At this time it is
almost impossible for a majority of the sons and
daughters of the farms of our Republic to obtain
possession of enough land to enable them to follow
in the footsteps of their parents, by devoting their
lives to agircultural pursuits. Many of them have
already entered the downward path of the unfortun
ate tenant. Many others have been forced to find
employment in other pursuits.

"You ask how can this coming disaster be averted?
How can our people be saved from such a hopeless
future ?

' ' I answer, by the farmers, united with those who
wish to become farmers, coming together every
where in force ; by pooling their issues ; by helping
themselves ; by organizing co-operative farms like
this, armed with schools in which skilled workmen
may be taught to successfully carry on profitable
allied manufacturing industries. Monopolistic fa.rms
cannot then successfully compete. With demonstra
tions, such as we are making here to-day, springing
up by hundreds and thousands in each county and
state, during the next thirty years, what may we
expect ? The last remaining serf will have been
emancipated. The hopeless tenant and the landless
farmer can no longer be found. No one can be induced
to toil, for owners of the monopolistic farm. The
owners will not and cannot work themselves. The
experience of a few unprofitable years will urge
them to sell their lands to the co-operators at such
prices as they may be inclined to offer. The victory
will be ours. A glorious victory truly ! But, we
must not expect to gain this victory without a se
vere struggle. In the earlier stages of the move
ment, the monopolist will soon recognize the co-

SOLARIS FARM. 207

operative farm as an enemy which must be fought
to the bitter end, must be stamped out. To this end
they will strive in every way to prevent us from ob
taining possession of desirable lands.

"This determined opposition we must expect and
be prepared to meet. Forestry will help us to
another solution of the problem. As the tree-plant
ing farms continue to multiply, the increased rain
fall will cause the area of tillable lands, to gradually
extend beyond the borders of the arid lands. There
fore in case of necessity, we may turn to these arid
lands for relief. In such an event, the question of
forestry becomes an important factor.

"By referring to the tenth annual report of the
director of the U. S. Geological Survey, we learn
that the arid regions of the United States, comprise
the astonishing area of one million, three hundred
thousand square miles. This immense region con
tains more than one-third of all our lands ; a terri
tory much larger than that of the thirteen original
states combined. North and south, it stretches for
hundreds of miles on either side of the Rocky Moun
tain Range, that great backbone and water- shed of
our Continent. On the west, it covers nearly all of
the surface of that vast, broken and irregular basin,
lying between the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Moun
tains. On the east, it occupies that extended and
peculiar domain of high plateaus, treeless plains
and alkali barrens, known as the Great American
Desert.

"From this broad expanse of arid lands, in ac
cordance with the statements of the survey officials,
we may choose an area of one hundred and fifty
thousand square miles of irrigable lands ; that is
lands which may be restored to productive fertility,

208 SOLARIS FARM.

by means of irrigating ditches along the valleys,
and by building great catch basins, near the head
waters of a multitude of mountain streams, in which
may be conserved, the wasting waters of melting
snows and those of the heavy mountain rainfalls
combined. At this point we may mention incident
ally, that this area of irrigable lands could be largely
increased, by covering the available slopes of the
Rocky Mountains with dense forests of fine timber.
With this accomplished, the annual rainfall would be
doubled, while the necessary conditions would be
established, which, a few decades hence might yield
an annual crop of valuable timber, that would soon
repay the entire cost of planting and culture.

' ' In addition to the last named increase, we may
add an area of lands equal in size to the state of
Illinois, which are beyond the reach of irrigating
streams. We find these lands along the eastern foot
hills of the Rocky Mountains, and around the borders
of the Great American desert. They may easily be
restored to fertility, by the skillfully applied labor
of a legion of co-operative farms. At varying depths
beneath these lands, flow perrenial streams of arte
sian water. By the spouting, life-giving waters of a
vast number of artesian wells, a large proportion of
these desert lands can be transformed to an agricult
ural paradise. The cost of these wells, would be but
little more than the expense of the labor required to
bore them.

"But, says the objector, are not these mostly al
kali lands? Of course they are! And for that
reason offer greater possibilities of value ! ,„ Can they
be made to grow wheat, and thus increase the bread
supply ? r Is a question that comes from the mouths
of the world's great army of bread eaters, six hun-

SOLARIS FARM. 209

dred million strong. Just think of it !

< < For reasons which I shall state presently, I hope
to be able to show why these alkali lands when
properly irrigated, can be made to produce abundant
crops of wheat.

" For the past twenty years, leading men of science,
who, alive to the importance of increasing the
world's supply of wheat ; have given close attention
to statistics which seemedito indicate that the yield
per acre, of the wheat fields in all countries, is stead
ily decreasing. Decreasing to such an extent as to
make it probable, that in the near future, the yield on
a large proportion of these lands, will become too
meagre to pay the cost-of cultivation. A long series
of carefully conducted experiments demonstrated the
truth of these alarming statistics.

"This discovery lead to a general search for some
cheap, available, chemical, compound, which might
restore these worn out wheat lands to their former
productiveness.

"In an address, delivered at Bristol, England,
near the close of the nineteenth century, by Professor
William Crookes, president of the British Association
for the advancement of science; he says ; 'Wheat pre
eminently demands as a dominant manure, nitrogen
fixed in the form of ammonia or nitric acid. Many
years of experimentation with nitrate of soda, or Chili
salt-petre, have proved it to be the most concentrated
form of nitrogenous food demanded by growing
wheat. This substance occurs native, over a narrow
band of the plain of Tamarugal, in the northern prov
ince of Chili, between the Andes and the coast hills.
'In this rainless district for countless ages, the con
tinuous fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by the soil,
its conversion into nitrate by the slow transfiguration

210 SOLARIS FARM.

of billions of nitrifying organizations, its combination
with soda, and the crystallization of the nitrate have
been steadily proceeding, until the nitrate fields of
Chili have become of vast importance, and promise
to be of inestimably greater value in the future.
The growing exports of nitrate from Chili at present,
amount to about 1,200,000 tons annually.'

"In carefully analyzing this lesson from the lips
of Professor Crookes, we discover that the same
peculiar climatic conditions which made a Chilian
desert so valuable, have been continuously at work
in our great American desert for a great many
thousands of years.

"For this reason, our uncounted acres of alkali
lands, are so rich with stores of this valuable nitro
genous compound, that by proper treatment they
may become the most valuable wheat-producing lands
in the world. The desert shall become the source of
abundance ! Under the transforming influence of a
generous water supply, forests shall spring up, and
fields of waving grain shall flourish around the vil
lage homes of a happy, prosperous people ! Alto
gether, we have an empire of these irrigable lands
now worthless, awaiting the transforming labor of
the homeless and landless, to restore them to pro
ductive fertility.

"When thus restored, these lands, at the lowest
estimate, will be worth the enormous sum of two
billion, eight hundred and eighty million dollars,
which in due time may be transferred to the credit
side of the wealth account of the nation ! Long be
fore this available domain of such vast possibilities
has been conquered and reclaimed, the longing de-'
sires of all who wish for land, and for agricultural
lives, for themselves and their children, will have

SOLARIS FARM. 211

been most abundantly satisfied.

"In looking over this broad field of possibilities
spread so temptingly before us, we are able to- dis
cover the importance of the work of tree-planting,
which now demands our attention. Strengthened by
concerted action, encouraged by new ideas and better
methods we become firm in our convictions, that it is
an imperative duty for us to continue the good work.
We must increase the number of our co-operative
farms with their tree-planting schools, until, edu
cated and moved by the force of so many demonstra
tions, a great majority of the people of this Republic
shall demand, that the entire area of the range of the
Rocky Mountains within our geographical limits,
shall become a permanent, public park ; with such a
wealth of territory and variety of climate, such
beauty of scenic grandeur and magnitude of pictur
esque proportions, as the world never saw before.
This matchless reservation is to be devoted to the
needs and uses of forestry, mining, the preservation
of its great variety of natural curiosities, and of
American Game.

"In addition to this Pride-of- the- World-Park, the
people shall also demand, that all of the most avail
able portions of the mountains of the Pacific Coast
Range, the Sierra Nevadas, the Alleghenies, the Ad-
irondacks and the White Mountains, shall be re
served by the government, and set apart for the
same uses and purposes.

"With the passing of this magnificent domain of
mountain territory to the permanent control of the
government, would come the beginning of the great
public forests; which would clothe with new beauty,
cover and protect in the most useful manner, the
principal water-sheds of our broad continental pos-

SOLARIS FARM.

sessions. Thus increasing to a degree approaching
perfection, the purity and abundance of the crystal
flood, that shall flow from a countless multitude of
new springs of living water. The volume of water
from these springs, shall furnish a supply sufficient
to maintain with full channels, a perpetual flow in
that net-work of lakes and rivers, that arterial
system of fertility and commerce, which variegates
and adorns the bright face of our fair land.

"Altogether, in considering the broad scope of
this stupendous plan as a whole, we have before us
a most important work, which must be accomplished!
A work which affects the welfare and happiness of
every citizen of our Republic ! A work which is in
every way worthy of our most earnest and persist
ent effort !

"This day, we have made a propitious beginning,
which augurs well for success. Let us on all occa
sions encourage tree-planting as a sacred duty
which we owe to future generations ! A duty which
must not be neglected ! From this time forward, let
us strive in every way to organize a broader, wiser,
more powerful movement ! Carried forward by the
resistless force of an enthusiasm born of a mighty
purpose ; with strong hands and willing hearts, let
us undertake the speedy accomplishment of our
chosen task ! Let us remember our responsibilities
as immortal beings ! Let us be mindful that life on
this plane of existence is very brief ; that an eter
nity of countless ages lies beyond ! Therefore we
cannot afford to be selfish ! Let us heed the warn
ing of nature's just law of compensation, which de
clares that in the higher life, selfishness becomes a
torment in comparison with which a crown of thorns
would seem a coveted blessing !

SOLARIS FARM.

"In our devotion to this noble work, let us ignore
all unworthy thoughts of self interest ! Possibly
we may not as mortals, live long enough in the ma
terial form to reap many of the benefits that are to
follow. But, being immortal ; and having passed to
a higher realm, where we are endowed with a keen
er, broader, mental, and spiritual vision ; lost to
the sense of time or physical pain, we may then be
hold the results of our work, in the increased enjoy
ment of our children and our children's children ;
while the centuries, like moments, glide swiftly by
and are lost in the endless procession of passing

ages !

< (

Finally, as an additional source of encourage
ment to continue a work which we may not live to
see mature ; let us consider carefully the significance
of the fact, that he who causes two blades of grass
to grow where only one grew before, is counted a pub
lic benefactor. Judged by the same standard, he who
causes two trees to grow where only one grew be
fore, is a benefactor of mankind, whose good works
shall earn for him the blessings of a hundred gener
ations ! By the same logic, it surely follows, that
the people, who cause a forest of trees to spring
from the arid bosom of desert earth, become the dis
tinguished benefactors of the human race, who offer
shade, shelter, fuel, fertility and sustenance, to a
thousand future generations ! They shall be thrice
blessed ! Having arisen to the demands of a higher
life of unselfishness, where the solidarity of all life
is recognized as a self-evident truth ; they have
gathered a sufficient store of love and wisdom to ad
mit them to the domain of causation. Classed as
worthy workers in that domain, they are entrusted
by nature, with the magical key which unlocks the

214 SOLARIS FARM.

climatic gate, to her pent up floods of fertility.

"In conclusion, people of Solaris, I leave this
presentation of the subject for your earnest con
sideration until the recurrence of our next annual
festival. During the interval, I feel confident that
you will all join me in a closer study, of a topic which
has already proved one of such absorbing interest, —
of such vast importance.

"Thanking you for your close attention, and for
the frequent applause, which has demonstrated your
approval, I recommend that we do now adjourn, to
enjoy the waiting banquet which is to follow as the
next order of the day."

Great applause greeted Fillmore Flagg at the
close of his oration. George Gerrish arose and
paid a glowing tribute to the wisdom and eloquence
of the orator ; after which, grasping him by both
hands, he said, "Fillmore, I am proud of you ! Sol
aris is more than proud of the masterful way in
which you have treated the entire subject ! Your
presentation of the theme, seemed to me to be so
perfect, so exhaustive and eloquent, that in the
future I may not expect to again hear its equal."

The next moment Fern Fenwick came forward,
radiant in her loveliness, her beautiful eyes shining
with emotions of love and gratified pride. In a voice,
whose clear, well modulated tones, thrilled him as
no mus'c could, she said, "Nobly done, Mr. Flagg !
I knew you would not disappoint me ! Your speech
was the most lovely poem in prose that I have ever
heard ! So perfectly charming, that I find it far be
yond my best words of praise ! In return for such
an eloquent tribute, the trees should join in a grate-

SOLARIS FARM. 215

ful anthem ! You have sounded the key-note ; it is
the evident destiny of co-operative farming in the
twentieth century, to restore these noble trees to
their rightful domain. "

The banquet, which followed the oration proved a
great success. It was really one long, interwoven
garland of witty speech and inspiring music, together
with the merry jingle and melodious crash of silver
and china. The enjoyable zest of the entertainment,
was spiced and flavored with the appetizing aroma
of an abundance of delicious, well -cooked food.
Placed at the head of the first table, our hero and
heroine were at all times the center of attraction;
the observed of all observers. ' 'A handsome couple,
evidently heaven-ordained for each other, " was the
universal comment.

The dance in the evening, was fittingly chosen as
the closing function of this famous festival. In ar
ranging the program, Fern and Fillmore were sel
ected by the floor managers as the leading couple.
Inspired by the music of an excellent band under the
leadership of Gilbert Gerrish, the assembled guests
with the vigor and enthusiasm- of youth caught the
prevailing spirit of merriment, and gave themselves
up to the fascinating movement of musical measures.
Lost in the charm of the mazy dance, the merry
makers noted not the flight of time. The last num
ber on the program came all too soon for them.

Dismissed by George Gerrish, the people of Sol
aris left the hall in a joyful mood. They declared
with one accord, that the day of the tree-planting
festival, had proved the happiest one on the farm.

216 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE STORY OF GILBERT GERRISH ;

OR,
THE STRENGTH OF THE WEAKEST UNIT.

To Gilbert Gerrish the day of the festival was one
long to be remembered : a day so laden with enjoy
ment for him, that all consciousness of his affliction
was blotted out. His musical genius was free and
unfettered. In such a mood, the music he drew from
his violin was more wonderful and entertaining than
ever before. Fern Fen wick was astonished and de
lighted. She soon became so much interested, that
at intervals between the dancing, she came upon the
platform to engage him in conversation. Grateful
for such marked attention from the distinguished
patroness of the farm, the natural shyness and re
ticence of the young musician, was quickly dispelled.
To Fern, it was remarkable how eloquently and in
terestingly he could talk upon almost every topic
she chose to introduce. On the subject of ethical,
social, inventive and educational work, as exempli
fied by the different phases of club life at the farm ;
Gilbert was at his best. He spoke with such en
thusiasm and perfect knowledge of details that Fern
Fenwick was profoundly impressed. She then and
there determined, at the first convenient opportunity,
to have Fillmore Flagg relate to her more in detail,
the many incidents connected with his farm life, and
how this interesting boy had managed in so short a
time, to make himself such a universal favorite with
the farm people, both old and young.

That night before retiring, Gilbert told his mother

SOLARIS FARM. 217

in confidence, that Miss Fenwick was the brightest,
most beautiful and most lovable woman he had ever
met. "Tell me truly, Mamma ! Do you think she is
really in love with Mr. Flagg? I hope it may be
true ! For I know he deserves to win the love of the
best and most charming woman that ever was born!"

While this confidential interview between mother
and son was in progress, Fern and Fillmore were
speaking of Gilbert in such a way, that if overheard
by Gertrude Gerrish it would have stirred the pride
in her mother heart.

"I declare, Fillmore!" said Fern, "to my mind that
clever lad, Gilbert Gerrish, is one of the most
astonishing products of Solaris Farm ! You have
promised to tell me the story of his life here on the
farm. I am now ready to hear it. At the festival
dance I had an opportunity to engage him in con
versation, and the good fortune to so win his con
fidence, that he could talk to me without embarass-
ment. It was then that I discovered what a brilliant
intellectual prodigy, eloquent talker, skilled musi
cian, and cultured artist he really was. There is
something mysterious about his strong, intellectual,
spiritual nature, which has aroused my interest in
him, and my sympathy for him, to a degree that is
very unusual for me. The more I know of him the
more I wish to win his friendship.

"What a terrible misfortune, that he is so afflicted
by the deformity of that spinal trouble ! I cannot
help picturing him as possessed of a physique in
harmony with his glorious intellectual and spiritual
unfoldment. How naturally then, he could win the
love of some equally gifted, noble woman. How
happy they could make each other through the pass
ing changes of a long and useful life. Aside from

218 SOLARIS FARM.

my speculative fancies, I do wonder what the future
has in store for him ? How bravely he bears him
self ! He does not seem inclined to be gloomy or
misanthropical under the burden of his misfortune!"

"I think, my dear Fern, that my story will un
ravel the mystery. I am delighted to find that you
have already become interested in Gilbert, and have
discovered so many of his good qualities ! I can as
sure you that he is worthy of your sympathy and
friendship ! He is a noble fellow ! Richly endowed,
with a remarkable, intuitive, spiritual nature ! His
enthusiasm, persevering efforts and ingenious de
vices, have contributed much towards the success
of this co-operative farm. The value and variety of
his especial work in the department of experimental
farming, has proved his extraordinary ability, and
justly earned for him the title of the 'wonder worker
of the farm !'

"On account of Gilbert's frail form and sensitive
nature, it was deemed wise by his ever watchful
parents, to give him the protection of an isolated
home life. For this purpose, a cozy cottage was
built in the center of its own grounds, some distance
away from all other buildings. This cottage was
charmingly fitted and furnished in such style and
taste as would satisfy the artistic ideas of this
domestic trio, and at the same time, afford quiet,
retired, spacious rooms, for Gilbert's musical and
other studies. Rooms where violin and piano prac
tice, at any hour that might suit his fancy, could
disturb no one.

' 'Referring to that haunting desire which impresses
you to picture Gilbert as possessing a magnificent
physique, in harmony with his brilliant, mental and
spiritual unfoldment; I accept it as another proof of

SOLARIS FARM. 219

the growth of his spiritual body to the beautiful
proportions you seem to see. All psychics who
come within the radius of his powerful, spiritual
aura, sense or see this strong symmetrical body.
His affectionate and emotional nature is beautifully
developed. No one can appreciate the graces and
charms of a refined, beautiful woman more keenly
than Gilbert Gerrish ! Yet, I know, that in this
life, he does not for one moment, even dream of a
possible marriage with any woman. He is loyally
devoted to his spiritual ideal !

"For many months, I have been to Gilbert a
trusted friend and confidential companion. In this
capacity, I have learned his story of the hidden
romance of his young life. This story I will repeat
to you as an illustration of the high order of his
boyish character. It cannot fail to increase both
your admiration and your respect, for this youthful
devotee at the shrine of love.

"When Gilbert was ten years old, while attending
school at St. Louis, he became acquainted with Rita
Estelle Ringwood. She was in many ways a re
markable girl ; only two months younger than Gil
bert. Tall and straight, with a well rounded figure,
already as large as a maid of fourteen, Rita gave
promise of an early development into a lovely woman.
With a large, finely formed head, crowned by a lux
uriant growth of soft, thick, wavy, chestnut hair;
a smooth, creamy complexion, pleasing features,
firm mouth and well rounded chin; large, full, soft,
brown eyes, unusually expressive ; a strong, well
turned white throat and neck, symmetrical shoulders,
perfectly formed hands and feet ; and a well poised,
graceful carriage, she appeared to Gilbert as some
divine creature. From the first moment of meeting,

220 SOLARIS FARM.

a strong bond of mutual attraction drew them to
gether. If kept long apart, both became nervous
and restless. When again united, they were quickly
at peace with themselves and all the world. By a
strange coincidence, as it transpired ; Rita's parents
lived in a house just across the street, almost in the
front of the one occupied by the Gerrish family.
Through the children, the parents soon became inti
mate friends. As Gilbert had never cared to play
with boys of his own age, either on the streets or at
school, it was natural under the circumstances, that
he should devote himself entirely to Rita, as the
only congenial playmate he had ever known. Very
soon, as a consequence, the twain were almost al
ways together, either in one home or the other.
They read or studied from the same book, often
pausing to discuss some question of more than usual
interest. In music, they had the same tastes, the
same predominating passion for it. Gilbert soon
taught Rita to use the violin; while Rita in turn
taught Gilbert to play the piano. Each could then
alternate, in playing violin accompaniments to piano
music. Much practice soon enabled these artistic
children, to render such duets with thrilling effect.
In so delightful an occupation, hours passed swift
ly by. A series of selections were chosen for even
ing concerts. The parents were called in to en
joy them. In the eyes of the parents, both children
were manifestly helpful to each other. Rita never
seemed to notice Gilbert's misshapen body. She
evidently responded, only to impressions emanat
ing from his more perfect and dominant, spirit
ual body. Gilbert was conscious of this fact, and
always seemed at ease in her presence. As the
months flew swiftly by; these strange children grew

SOLARIS FARM. 221

more devotedly fond of each other. Three summers
had witnessed the growing together of these two
harmoniously attuned souls.

' 'The day following Gilbert's thirteenth birthday,
he was depressed by some overshadowing cloud of
sadness. He could not explain it, nor, could he throw
it off. The sequel came the following week, when a
great wave of pestilence, in the form of malignant
typhoid fever, swept over the city. It claimed Rita
as one of its first victims.

. "Heart broken ! Rita's parents hastily returned to
New York, where, surrounded by early associations,
they vainly and hopelessly struggled to forget their
terrible bereavement.

* 'To Gilbert, the shock was frightful ! His parents,
George and Gertrude Gerrish were alarmed. They
feared for his life ! He wandered about with dry,
staring eyes, like one in a trance. He could not
weep ! For days, he could neither eat nor drink !
At last, came the crisis ! Reason seemed about to
leave her throne ! Then it happened, that Gilbert
grew strangely calm and hopeful.

' 'In a few short days the improvement was magic
al. His beautiful eyes shone with the fires of new in
spiration ! Questioned by his parents, he assured
them that Rita still lived. He knew that she was
not dead ! Clairvoyantly, he had seen her, more
beautiful than ever. Clairaudiently, he had heard,
over and over again, the sweet familiar tones of her
voice. All this through his own medium ship and
more besides. Controlling his hand and arm, in her
own identical hand-writing, she had written to him
long messages filled with loving consolation, bidding
him look hopefully forward to a happy reunion in
the land of the spirit, the home of the soul ! Almost

222 SOLARIS FARM.

nightly in dreams, she came to him, when for hap
py hours they were again united in the enjoyment of
the old familiar companionship, so dear to his waking
memories.

1 'Through Gilbert's mediumshipfhis parents be
came spiritualists. This happened some months be
fore I visited them in St. Louis, on my first trip west,
from Newburgh. Some months later, th^ family
came to Solaris.

"In a recent conversation, speaking to me of his
life work, his hopes and his ambitions, Gilbert said :
'Fillmore, I know that my life here will be short.
I know that I have a work to do here on this farm,
for the future benefit of my brothers and sisters in
earth life. I know that in spirit life, Rita waits for
me to join her, when that work is finished. I now
realize that swiftly passing days, weeks, mont^-and
years, are precious portions of time which I must
improve to the utmost. I know that this primary
school of life has many useful lessons, which I must
master as quickly as possible. I know that the sooner
they are mastered, the sooner I shall be prepared
to enter a higher class in spirit life. I know that as
a spirit, in that land of golden sunlight, freed from
the burden of this unsightly prison of flesh, I shall
be clothed in a spiritual body as symmetrically per
fect as my highest ideal can picture. I know that
thus clothed, and crowned with the perpetual youth
of the spirit ; I shall again be united with my darling
Rita, never more, to part. Together, in obedience to
the law of an infinite love, we shall go hand in hand,
up the paths of wisdom which lead to the summits of
the hills of everlasting progress. I know that dur
ing my sojourn here, when I am weary afta<J vmos^
need the healing balm of her presence, my Rita can

SOLARIS FARM. 223

come to cheer and help me. Knowing all this, life is
full of promise ! I have no time to be sad or lonely !
Thje 'world is bright ! I am ambitious to make its
people my friends, by creating for them, better and
brighter* conditions for the enjoyment of life.'

' * iftis, my dear Fern ! is the romance, which like
some secret charm, Gilbert wears *m his heart. His
armor against all evil ! The bright star of his am
bition •!. The beacon light of his hope ! "

' * The romance is indeed a most extraordinary one !
The story is exquisitely beautiful ! Its pathos fills my
heart with b&fch joy and sadness ! In the develop
ment of his mediumship, following his bereavement,
how like my own, has been his experience ! This
explains my sympathetic1 -desire for .fiis friendship.
What a noble fellow he is ! I shall be proud to claim
him ^ my friend ! Now Fillmore, you must tell me
of Jjus" work for the farm.f I am anxious to know
more of the peculiar methods of this inspired genius. "

1 'Very well ! JLn the center of the large garden at
the rear of the G-errish cottage, is a roomy workshop,
built for Gilbert's sole use and. occupancy. Alone in
this shop, he has mapped out for himself such a
course of study, experimental work, and industrial
amusement, as might suit the fancy of his swiftly
changing moods ; or conform to the passing whims
of his busy brain. To the combined interests of Sol
aris farm, he is intensely devoted. To keep a realis
tic picture of the farm always in his mind, he has
drawn an immense map, large enough to completely
cover the wall space on one side of the shop. He
subdivided, colored and named the subdivisions on
the map, after a bold, brilliant scheme of his own.
The result is a matter of astonishment to all be-
Jiolders. The map seems to possess some charm of

224 SOLARIS FARM.

attraction, which no one can explain. On each sub
division from time to time, Gilbert has tacked cards
filled with finely written notes, setting forth from
his own standpoint, a history of the subdivision, its
peculiarities, and capabilities of the different soils ;
character of crops and fertilizers, together with
such suggestions for perfection or improvement, as
his thorough knowledge of chemistry might deter
mine ; or his keen, analytical, observation of the crops
produced, might indicate.

"This map of itself, is a most valuable work; in
volving an immense amount of intelligent, skillful
labor ; also much study of chemistry, and of horti
cultural and agricultural authorities. As an indica
tion of our appreciation of its value, this map has
been taken as a suggestive model for the completion
of those made and kept by the clerical force em
ployed in the farm office.

"On the south side of his shop, two large doors
open into a roomy, glass-roofed hot house, con
taining a very unique collection of potted plants,
which, under the skillful hands of this young en
thusiast, are undergoing the different stages of ex
perimental treatment, such as he may deem nec
essary, to prove or disprove his many pet theories
or fancies, in regard to care, growth, insect enemies,
and to application of electric light, sun light, heat,
moisture and fertilizers. Each plant bears a fruit
ful crop of cards, giving a summary of results and
conclusions. Each one of these cards may contain,
in skeleton form, the subject matter of a brief essay,
brimful of valuable suggestions and interesting
statements. Sooner or later, these essays, signed
'Experimenter,' are liable to find their way into the
contribution box at the door of the Press Club.

SOLARIS FARM. 225

"Gilbert's collection of birds and insects, forms
another interesting feature of his industrial museum.
These collections were made, arranged and classi
fied, in order to afford opportunities for making a
careful study of the insect enemies of his plants,
and also to discover what birds were most destruct
ive to the different insects. The birds he kept in
cages; the insects in glass-covered boxes.

"The care of these things, and the time and labor
necessary to collect, classify and arrange them,
would to most people, prove a grievous burden. To
Gilbert, it was simply another mode of recreation
and amusement. On the live insects, he tried the
effects of such chemicals as might destroy them
without injury to the growing plants. To his caged
birds, Gilbert fed his bugs, worms and moths, care
fully noting the kinds they most eagerly swallowed.
His conclusions were always briefly written out.
They proved a perfect mine of valuable information,
to be used in perfecting better methods for farm
culture.

"Aside from this kind of work; in the departments
of his shop devoted to experiments with clays, mica,
soils, minerals and the various powers, attractions
and affinities of electricity, his constructive ideation
and inspired mentality, always gave him an excel
lent crop of good results. Altogether, such su
perior work, carried forward in his own unique way,
has added many hundreds of dollars to the annual
income of the farm. In the department of experi
mental farming, as I have before stated, his work
has proved most brilliant and helpful ; generally
leading to the adoption of many improved methods
for successfully selecting, planting and growing these
new crops.

226 SOLARIS FARM.

"Considered as a whole, such a variety of valu
able contributions have convinced our people, that
physically speaking, one of the farm's weakest units,
under the fostering development of co-operative or
ganization, is capable of becoming one of its most
valued productive workers. The wonder of it all,
is, that Gilbert is able to accomplish such important
results, while following a scheme he has devised as
a source of personal diversion !

"Turning to Gilbert's intellectual, artistic and
esthetic life, we discover that this gifted boy finds
the same source of comfort and amusement in his
devotion to the art of music. In this branch of
accomplishments, you, my dear Fern ! have had oc
casion to observe how important a factor he has be
come, in organized social life at Solaris. He is such
a general favorite, that without an effort, he has
been able to so impress the strong individuality of
his noble character upon the minds of our farm
people, that the effect for good has been truly
wonderful !"

* ' This is exceedingly interesting, Fillrnore ! How
charmed I am with your completed story of this
marvelously gifted boy! All that you have told me
about Gilbert, only seems to confirm my previous
convictions, that he is really one of the most astonish
ing products of Solaris farm ! No wonder he is such
a general favorite ! He has nobly earned the title !
With such intelligence and genius, possessed, em
bodied and expressed by its weaker units; is it any
cause for wonder, that the success of Solaris as a
co-operative colony, is so pronounced ?"

SOLARIS FARM. 227

CHAPTER XXX.

OUR HERO AND HEROINE DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS.

ON THE day following the festival, we find Fill-
more Flagg in the office of the farm, going over the
books of the company with Fern Fenwick. To most
women, such a task would soon prove unbearably
monotonous and tiresome. However, she neither grew
restless or inattentive. At all times on the alert to
note each new point of interest ; her questions on
every subject indicated a remarkably intelligent con
ception of the general plan of the work. Finally,
having satisfied herself that she understood the
status of the farm well enough to enable her to pro
pound her list of queries in the proper order, and in
such a manner, as would most successfully bring to
her the information she wished to obtain : with note
book in hand, she commenced by saying: "Now
Fillmore, I am ready to take up my series of questions
about Solaris, which you have kindly consented to
answer. I promise in advance to be good; to try
to refrain from untimely interruptions, by asking a
host of irrelevant questions at inopportune moments !

"First, I wish you would tell me just what is rep
resented by the one thousand shares of capital stock,
of the Solaris Farm Company ? "

"The corporation, as you know, is so limited,"
said Fillmore, "that the land cannot be sold, and the
stock can only be sold to the Company; nevertheless,
the original cost of the land is covered by the stock.
The entire capitalization of $250,000, which I think
will fairly represent the financial status of the farm

228 SOLARIS FARM.

at the end of the first five years, is divided as fol
lows :

Purchase price of land $ 32,000

Improvements 68,000

Buildings 100,000

Live stock, equipment and machinery 50,000

1250,000

Of the last named item, about 125,000 is estimated
for machinery. However, this amount does not fully
represent its real value. In many instances, it only
gives the actual cost of. the raw material used in con
struction. This capitalization does not seem so
large, when we consider the small individual hold
ings. Having a par value of $250 a share, we have
only $500, in the two shares, for each one of the five
hundred co-operators. I think it has been wisely
determined by a majority vote, that as the resources
of the farm continue to develop and mature, the in
crease of profits shall come to the individual stock
holder in the shape of larger wages, instead of by
dividends on stock. Although this is not a money-
making institution, and was not so intended from the
beginning ; a fact properly emphasized by the fore
going. Yet, by the way of arriving at some estimate
of its future value, I feel safe in predicting, that, if
the stock should be offered in the markets of the
world, and dividends declared in the usual way,
twenty years hence, these certificates of stock would
be worth $1,500 per share. In other words, would
have doubled in value six times during that period."

"Judging by what I already know of the farm and
its resources," said Fern, "I quite agree with you in
this view of the matter.

* ' In considering the future needs of such a large

SOLARIS FARM. 229

number of co-operators, which in ten years may be
increased by pensioners and children, to one thous
and people ; do you think this farm is large enough
to meet the demand ?"

"For the purpose in view it is ample," said Fill-
more. "Operated in connection with so many allied
industries, I think a farm of 5,000 acres would be
sufficient. That would be ten acrts for each one.
Here in Solaris, we have 12 8-10 acres of land for
every adult member of the company. By carrying
the process of intensive farming to a very high state
of perfection ; Prof. Grandeau, at Capelle, France,
has actually demonstrated, that it is possible to
grow 8 1-2 bushels of wheat — one man's bread food
for the year — on one-twentieth part of an acre of
land. Armed with so many advantages, with better
conditions, superior methods, and more intelligent
workers ; I feel sure we can easily accomplish here,
all that Grandeau has done in France, and more.
Besides, you must remember, that we shall have the
additional support of quite a large number of profit
able industries, to help us in meeting the demands
of an increased number of consumers. "

"That sounds logical and reasonable," said Fern.
"I now remember, that while traveling in Europe
with my father, gathering agricultural statistics :
the Capelle experiments were brought to our atten
tion at that time, as worthy of careful consideration.
I am greatly pleased to know that you are already
familiar with them. To continue the subject, I wish
to say that I am much impressed with the outlook
for intensive farming at Solaris. Aided by the won
derful power of applied co-operative thinking, com
bined with your careful and comprehensive system
of book-keeping, which embraces every field and do-

230 SOLARIS FARM.

partment of the farm ! I believe that ten years
hence, you will be able to give to the world, some
very valuable statistics on the whole subject of farm
ing, both intensive and diversified.

" I have noticed with an unusual degree of inter
est, the apparently lavish use of electric power in
operating the factory works and farm machinery.
I am really quite curious to know just how it is gen
erated."

"That is a very large question.!" said Fillmore.
"At different times since the commencement of our
work, we have used three methods for generating
electricity. First, the old fashioned steam dynamo.
Second, the direct conversion of coal into electricity.
Third, the gathering of great quantities of this
subtle force from the atmosphere, through a certain
vibratory action, set up by intense concentration of
the sun's rays. As a result of a vast deal of co
operative thinking and careful experimentation ; the
last named process, has been so perfected and cheap
ened, as to entirely supersede the first two. The
powerful batteries of Solaris concentrators, which
you see around the power-house, and at various
points on the farm, are important factors in this
work. I confess, that I am rather proud of the re
markable success, which we have achieved in this
line of invention. When I gave a title to the farm, I
had a premonition, that solar heat and force would
be so successfully harnessed to both industrial and
agricultural work, that the suggestive name of Sol
aris, would soon become as famous, as it was fitting
and well earned.

"In applying this power to all kinds of farm and
factory work, we have succeeded far beyond my
most sanguine expectations. With a plant almost

SOLARIS FARM.

entirely built by our own co-operative labor, we are
able to generate an abundance of cheap power,
which can be easily and safely conducted to the
most distant portions of the farm. This power is
readily available at any desired point, and for all
kinds of work ; becoming the magic motor by which
we operate trains of trolley cars, for handling grain,
hay, corn and all heavy crops ; great gang-plows,
rollers, harrows, cultivators, planters, drills, reap
ers, threshers and motor wagons ; all so perfectly
constructed and so easily controlled ; that with them
a woman, fittingly dressed and gloved, protected
from the heat of the sun by a canopy, comfortably
seated on cushions and springs, may accomplish the
roughest and heaviest kind of farm work, without
fatigue or discomfort. In fact, our women soon find
it the most delightfully, fascinating work on the
farm.

"In connection with such a powerful motor, a
single person, operating one of these improved agri
cultural machines, can do an amount of work in six
hours, which under the old system would require
ten hours of severe toil by six men and twelve
horses. Of course, such machinery can only be pro
duced and operated by large co-operative farms like
this ; with a carefully chosen force of co-operators,
who are thinkers as well as workers; who are intel
lectually, physically and socially prepared to invent
and construct machines that are perfectly fitted to
do this particular kind of work. "

"Really!" said Fern, "this is as interesting as it
is remarkable ! This sun-generated force, this mag
ic motor, so perfectly adjusted to agricultural work,
under the test of practical use ; which has proved
so easily controlled ; together with the tireless host

232 SOLARIS FARM.

of wonder-working machines, which this force has
called into being ; is truly a marvel worthy of the
twentieth century !

"Tell me, Fillmore ! Why is it that these things
have not been done before ?"

"There are many reasons. I think I can give
you the principal one. From a remote period of
time, a large majority of the people of this planet
have gained a living by following agricultural pur
suits. Bowed down under the weight of severe toil,
hopeless under the pressure of a belief, that labor
was a curse which they might not seek to escape ;
confined by ignorance to a narrow sphere of action,
which kept them from looking upward and outward ;
it is not strange, that so many passing generations
of these people, should never once dream of adopting
a series of progressive changes for the betterment
of their condition.

"Such people were incapable of understanding,
that, in order to secure the best and most successful
results from agricultural work, it requires a system
atic application of the highest order of brain work :
that this brain work, must inspire a harmonious
collection of trained, muscular workers, operating
under the most favorable conditions. By the way of
a contrast, how helpless were the lives of these farm
ers ! As a rule they worked under the most dis
couraging conditions, distrustful and envious, un
educated and narrow minded ; how could they be pre
pared to comprehend that basic law of progress,
which is embodied in the idea of unselfish co-opera
tion?

"For these reasons, co-operative thinking and co
operative farming, have not heretofore been success
fully combined. Here and now, in the first decade

SOLARIS FARM. 233

of the twentieth century, a few unselfish souls, the
advance guard of the coming army, responding to
the pressure of progressive evolution, have risen to
such intellectual heights as has enabled them to dis
cover, that by the aid of a harmonious union of
thought and labor, a collection of people, working
the soil unselfishly together, can easily attain results
which, the most brilliant individual effort, armed
with the wealth of a millionaire, could never hope to
accomplish. Inspired with this idea, the people of
Solaris, as pioneers in the work, are striving earnest
ly to demonstrate the absolute success of co-operative
farming."

" What I have seen with my own eyes, I know as
a verity!" said Fern, enthusiastically. "Therefore
I feel like shouting in the ears of our people : Well
done, good and faithful servants in the cause of pro
gress ! The victory is already won ! It is yours !

"Your explanation of the cause of the late coming
of practical co-operation in agriculture, appeals to
my mind, as a very clear one. That the ignorance
and selfishness of the individual, has from the begin
ning, proved the real obstacle, is now quite plain to
me.

' * However, returning to my list of questions. How
is it, that the fields and cultivated grounds at Sol
aris, are so free from weeds ? "

1 'Ah ! " said Fillmore. ' ' The answer to that quest
ion, is another argument in favor of co-operative
farming. Weeds have always been counted by farm
ers, as among the worst of the pests which they
have been obliged to contend with. Under the most
adverse conditions, weeds will grow, flourish, and
ripen an appalling quantity of seed ; where all useful
plants will languish and finally perish. To keep

234 SOLARIS FARM.

them down, is a task which requires a great deal of
hard work. To destroy them, root and branch, is a
problem which has occupied the minds of our people
for the past thirty months. After much thoughtful
work, we have reached a solution.

"During the period of frost, from the first of De
cember to the first of March, the weedy ground is
thoroughly stirred several times. After each stir
ring, the ground is swept by a broad stream of con
centrated heat-rays — both light and dark. These
rays are generated by a number of batteries of Sol
aris mirrors, or great sun glasses. This operation
soon warms the ground and causes the weeds to put
forth a tender growth. After such a growth, a week
of frosty weather kills it down. This process is re
peated until the weeds are all gone. When the nec
essary frosts do not appear, or when the work is
carried on during warmer weather, a scorching from
the sun glasses, kills the weeds even more effectively
than frost. In this way the cultivated ground on the
farm, has been entirely freed from weeds. As a re
sult, the yield of crops has been largely increased,
while the labor of cultivation has been correspond
ingly reduced. That back- aching work of hoeing,
has been almost entirely dispensed with. Machine
culture does the work.

"The great advantage gained by cropping soil
free from weeds, is most apparent in case of wheat
culture. In such soils, the wheat can be deeply
sown by the drill, beyond the reach of predatory
birds. This develops a strong root-growth in the
young plant, which as a consequence requires more
space. To meet this demand, care is taken to have
the drill-rows made one foot apart — running north
and south. These wide rows allow free access of

SOLARIS FARM. 235

air and sunlight to the soil, which may then be
cultivated. Under the old system this space would
be full of weeds ; therefore impracticable. This
gives the young wheat a chance to spread out, to
send up from twenty to forty stout stems from the
root- system of a single grain of seed. The growing
stems become more sturdy, bear larger heads, heads
with more and larger kernels, of heavier, brighter
wheat. With this culture, the yield is increased one-
third — many times one-half — and the quality wonder
fully improved. Fully one-half of the usual quantity
of seed is saved.

' ' By repeating this method for a few years, care
fully choosing the seed for each planting from the
best kernels borne by the largest heads, the ordin
ary wheat-crop, without extra fertilization, may
easily be doubled two and one-half times ; while the
quality of the entire crop is raised to the grade of
extra fine, which will readily sell at fancy prices for
seed wheat. The net gain, is a large cash balance
in favor of cultivating a weedless soil. What is
true of wheat culture in such soils, is true in a large
measure with most other crops ; more especially
with corn, cotton and all kinds of garden crops."

"Stop a moment, Fillmore !

* ' Did I understand you to say that these immense
discs, these mammoth, weed-scorching mirrors, were
made here at Solaris ? How can such expensive
things be made, for a price that would allow so
many to be used ?"

"Yes, these concentrating mirrors and burning
glasses combined, are the product of the inventive
genius and skillful work of our people. A combina
tion of brain and muscular work so successful, that
these discs, although they are of such great size and

236 SOLARIS FARM.

weight, are quickly and cheaply made from thick
plates of flat glass, which we manufacture from our
abundant supply of excellent sand! The quality of
the glass in these plates is of the best ; clear, soft,
and tough, just the kind that will most readily
take the proper concave and convex surfaces, when
treated by the evenly applied heat of swiftly re
volving electric brushes. With plenty of strong ma
chinery to handle these heavy plates, a few skilled
workers, can with ease, soon transform them into
perfect, lense- shaped discs. Similar discs, made by
the slow, tedious process of nineteenth century
methods, would cost many thousands of dollars for
each one."

"You have answered my question both briefly and
perfectly ! I recognize in these great mirrors, a
swift, wonder-working agency, that shall make pos
sible a new system of farming ; which means, in the
improved conditions for mankind that must follow, a
revolution in social methods, calculated to bring
them quickly into harmony with a rate of progress
demanded by the twentieth century.

"I will take up another question. It is in con
nection with the large amount of cultivated ground
devoted to vegetables. How do you manage to make
it profitable to grow such a quantity of perishable
things ?"

"That is another important question, which will
require an answer so lengthy, that perhaps you may
grow weary before I have finished. However, I will
try to be brief. During the past year, we have
taken from the ground devoted to vegetable grow
ing, more than 100,000 bushels of cabbage, cauli
flower, onions, beets, mangel-wurzel, carrots, par
snips, salsify, potatoes, sweet-potatoes, cassava, tur-

SOLARIS FARM. 237

nips, kohlrabi and artichokes; The best part of the
story is, that this heavy crop has proved profitable,
to a degree far beyond our expectations ! As a rule,
this class of vegetables, so heavy and so perishable,
cannot be profitably grown in large quantities, ex
cept in locations near a large market town. This
advantage, Solaris does not possess. To overcome
this difficulty, was an additional task, which must be
conquered, by the allied forces of co-operative think
ing and co-operative working. In the solution of
this puzzling question which was finally reached,
the great mirrors and burning glasses of the Solaris
concentrators, were again called upon to play an im
portant part.

' ' The first necessity, was to reduce the weight of
the vegetables, and at the same time, to arrest all
tendency to decay. The second was to protect them
from the attack of insects, by placing them in neat,
strong, insect-proof packages.

"A large curing establishment was built and
equipped with machinery ; most of which was made
at Solaris, from especially devised patterns. Con
venient trolley lines, connected the curing-house
with the fields. The vegetables, crisp and fresh
from the ground, were quickly brought to the wash
ing machines, on trains of cars laden with shallow
trays, which permitted them to be swiftly handled
without bruising. In these machines, they were
thoroughly cleansed, scraped, and freed from tops,
rootlets and imperfections. This process complete,
they were placed in trays on traveling carriers,
which delivered them to the dicing machines. In
the dicing machines, they were soon reduced to
inch-cubes.

"In passing from these machines, the cubes fell

238 SOLARIS FARM.

on traveling screens of fine wire, which formed the
first of a long series of drying rollers. The drying
rollers, on the way to the packing rooms in the large
store-house, passed through a long system of sheet-
iron conduits, which were well heated by the con
centrated rays of the sun from the mirrors and sun
glasses. So well did the drying rollers do their
work, that by the time the cubes had reached the
store-house, and were delivered by the elevators
into the storing-bins in the packing house, they
were reduced to a dry, hard kernel. They had lost
three-fourths in bulk, and about the same proportion
in weight.

"The funnel-shaped bottoms to the storing-bins
were so arranged as to be above the long rows of
packing tables. A series of graduated spouts, de
livered the cured vegetables to the packers, who,
standing or sitting as they might prefer, could, with
but little effort and much speed, fill the prepared
boxes with the little cubes,

' ' These boxes, of a uniform size and shape, were
made from thick layers of heavy straw-paper, made
stiff and firm under high pressure. The farm in
manufacturing them, was able to utilize large quan
tities of surplus straw from the grain fields, which
could not be used as forage. In the corners of the
boxes, between layers of paper, while they were be
ing molded into shape, were inserted small, triang
ular pieces of wood. These bevel-shaped strips
were cut six inches in length, just the depth of the
boxes, in which they served as upright cornerposts.
The shallow covers fitted each box with a telescope
joint.

"In the process of box-making, the layers of pa
per were saturated with a chemical, germicide solu-

SOLARIS FARM. 239

tion, which made the boxes insect-proof ; yet, which
would not odorize, nor in any way injure the con
tents. In the process of packing, each box and
cover was lined with thin sheets of parafine paper,
as an additional guard against moisture. When the
boxes were filled and sealed, they were strongly
coopered, by adding four thin laths of strong wood.
These laths, one- eighth of an inch thick, two inches
wide, and just the length of the box ; two at the
bottom, and two at the top, were securely nailed to
the cornerposts ; thus completing a package which
was cheap, strong, light, durable, rodent and insect-
proof. With a capacity of a half-bushel, it weighed
only five pounds. Filled with cubes, the gross
weight was but thirty-five pounds. An ideal pack
age, which could be piled high in transportation or
store-house without injury ; the upright corner-
posts taking all the pressure.

"The half -bushel or thirty pounds of dried cubes
in each box, represent two bushels of fresh vege
tables. Cured and packed in this way, they reach
distant markets, sound, sweet, clean and nutritious.
No waste, no worms, no musty smell, no decay !
Frost cannot hurt them, heat preserves them ! For
long voyages, army and navy use, mining, lumber
ing, and hunting outfits, they are simply invaluable !
For all classes of consumers, they are cheaper,
cleaner and more wholesome than the ordinary stale
and wilted vegetables, for sale in the city markets !
We have named these cubes, 'Solaris Vegetable Con
centrates, ' a title which we have copyrighted. The
packages readily wholesale at 75 cents, to be retailed
at one dollar. At these prices, they yield a hand
some profit to the farm.

"Last year we placed hundreds of sample pack-

240 SOLARIS FARM.

ages on tne general market, which soon proved the
excellence of the goods, and later brought heavy
orders for this year ; even more than we can fill, for
many of the varieties. A valuable hint to us, that
we must devote more ground to growing those par
ticular kinds.

"Our 'Solaris Mixture Concentrates' are almost
equally popular. We also have a growing demand
for our 'Solaris Stock Food, ' which we put in cheap
er packages, to wholesale and retail at 50 and 75
cents. This mixture is made up of equal proportions
of dried cubes of potatoes, carrots, cassava, and
mangel-wurzel. It has proved the acme of a health
ful, fattening stock- food ; especially beneficial in
counteracting the evil effects of heavy grain-feeding;
or in cases of emergency, to take the place of forage
or cut- straw food.

"In a weedless soil, much of the heavy labor of
growing vegetables is eliminated. In curing and
preparing them for market in this way, a great
amount of light, pleasant work, is available for our
women co-operators. Considered as a whole, this
vegetable scheme is one of the notable achievements
of Solaris farm, of which the members of the com
pany are justly proud."

1 ' This is surely a most excellent work ! It is a
clear demonstration of what important results may
be attained, by the application of thinking to agricul
tural work. In this instance, the lesson of your
brilliant success, impresses my mind as a most con
vincing argument in favor of co-operative farming.
I feel sure that it will appeal to the multitude with
the same force. It is but another illustration of the
old saying, 'Nothing succeeds like success !' A few
such examples will serve to overthrow the preju-

SOLARIS FARM. 241

dices of a thousand years ! They will win for you
a host of followers in the cause of co-operative
farming.

"Now Pillmore, let us consider another matter.
At the time we made our tour of inspection, my at
tention was attracted to groups of oddly constructed
barns, scattered here and there about the farm.
What are these buildings, and for what purpose are
they used ?"

" Those are curing-barns. They mark another
wide departure from the usual methods of ordinary
farming. For many years it has been a ruinously,
wasteful custom with farmers, to allow their crops
of corn, grain and hay, to stand in the fields while
curing. All, subject meanwhile to the destructive
effects of storms, dews and all kinds of adverse
weather, which as a rule, destroyed much of the
crop, and reduced the remainder to the condition of
an inferior grade.

"By the use of these barns, we are able to inaugu
rate an entirely different system, which succeeds
admirably. These barns, located near the grain
fields, are constructed with strong frames. They
are both tall and wide, and so anchored to their
foundations as not to be overthrown by high winds.
Each roof is supplied with a series of latticed venti
lators. In building the side walls, every alternate
ten feet, was left open from ground to roof. These
open spaces were fitted with roller screens of jointed,
wooden slats, operated by weights and springs,
which allowed the interior to be well lighted and
thoroughly ventilated. These screens could all be
raised or lowered at pleasure. While the barns
were being filled, they were all open.

"As the fields of grain commenced to ripeh'wue li

242 SOLARIS FARM.

the straw was still green and full of sap, and the
swollen kernels were just passing out of the dough
stage of maturing ; with the aid of a large force of
workers, operating improved machinery, entire fields
of standing grain at just precisely the proper stage
of maturity, could be transferred to the shelter of
these barns in a single day. As the heavy green
bundles of grain were delivered from the fields, to
the adjustable elevators working through the open
spaces of the barns, from either side, these bundles
were carried to the hands of the rick-builders, who
piled them into narrow ricks five feet in width,
across the barn and up to the roof. As the ricks
grew in height, strong wire screens were hooked to
the dividing posts which marked the boundaries of
the ricks. These screens kept the bundles in place,
and the ricks securely upright. When the barns
were filled in this way, the ricks were separated by
four feet of open space, with a ventilator in the roof
for each pair of ricks and spaces.

"When the grain crops were thus housed without
waste from shelling, the curing process went for
ward swiftly and securely. The advantages gained,
were many. The wheat straw, full of sap when
harvested, in curing slowly, kept the plump kernels
of grain from shrinking, while it left them with
clear, smooth, thin skins, and a quality, which pro
duced less bran and more gluten, in the flour they
would yield when ground. The kernels were all
more uniform in size, larger, firmer and fairer ;
would all grade as number one. No sprouted wheat !
No must ! No blight ! No rust !

"This was also true of oats and barley. The
straw came from the improved threshers, in straight,
compact bundles, thoroughly freed from grain, frag-

SOLARIS FARM. 243

rant and bright, almost as nutritious for forage as
hay. In fact, this straw, in such excellent shape for
cutting, feeding, storing, or transportation, pos
sessed more than twice the selling value of the best
of ordinary straw. The oat straw, being softer and
more pliable, was still more valuable as forage.
The barley straw, less desirable for stock food, was
sent to the paper mill for the use of the box factory.
By this method of harvesting and curing grain, the
increase in quality and selling value, was largely
augmented. " The general result was a marked sav
ing of grain, time, labor and money.

'In cutting and curing the hay crops, the same
kind of barns were used. The loosely packed hay
in the tall, thin ricks, was soon dry enough to bale,
and then be transferred to the storing barns ; leaving
room for the corn crop which was to follow. Hay
cured in this way is superior to anything on the
market, and always brings tip-top prices !

"In curing corn, more time and wider ricks are
necessary. The corn could be cut earlier, thus leav
ing the ground free to be prepared for the succeed
ing crop of fall wheat or late vegetables. During
stormy weather, after this slower curing process was
complete, a jolly army of huskers invaded the barns.
The ripe corn, free from husk, was carefully as
sorted and stored in the ventilated bins prepared for
it. The selected husks were packed and baled,
ready for market. The stalks were stripped and
topped by a clever machine. The excellent forage
thus accumulated, was baled and stored. The pith
in the large part of the stalk, was then extracted
by another machine. These piths were then treated
to a water- proofing process, sent to a shop on the
farm, and made up into life preservers. Both life

244 SOLARIS FABM.

preservers and life rafts, made from pith treated in
this way, proved lighter, cheaper, and more buoyant
than those made from cork. This, you will observe
is another profitable industry, added to the financial
resources of Solaris. It is also an addition to the
fitting employments for women.

"A still more desirable employment for our women
co-operators, was found at the grain mill, where
wheat, oats, and barley were transformed into popu
lar brands of ' Solaris Breakfast Food.' Thus pre
pared, the market value of a bushel of grain was
increased four fold.

' 'A new food preparation, from a mixture of pop
corn with equal parts of thoroughly ground, roasted
sweet corn, is really an excellent article of diet. In
small, neat packages, this healthy and attractive
food can be sold at a large profit.

"All of these sources of profit, naturally grow out
of the new methods of harvesting and housing
grain, which is made possible by the curing barns.
While in appearance, these barns may not prove at
tractive, yet, I think you will readily acknowledge
that they are very useful buildings ; buildings which
Solaris could not well do without."

"Really! Fillmore, I think these buildings are
very fine ! More than that, they are wonderfully
well adapted to the purpose for which they were con
structed ! In this respect they certainly excel in
usefulness, all other classes of barns. In your dis-
cription of them, and of the new methods in harvest
ing ; I have been as much interested and entertained
as though you were relating some fascinating rc-
mance. Indeed, I have been so absorbed, that I fear
my poor note- book has been sadly neglected !

' 'How much land do you devote to cotton growing ?

SOLAKIS FARM. 245

How has co-operative methods, affected its culture as
a paying crop ? "

1 ' Last year, we planted twelve hundred acres in
cotton. By the use of choice seed, a weedless soil,
improved methods in the destruction of insect ene
mies, a better selection of fibre-producing fertilizers,
a less wasteful plan of planting, and a more careful
culture, we have increased the yield per acre from
300 to 500, and in a few instances to 550 pounds.
When the crop was picked and ginned, we had
twelve hundred bales of fine cotton. The quality of
the fibre in the whole lot, was so excellent and so un
iformly well ripened, that we were offered two cents
per pound above the ruling price of ordinary cotton.
As a result, this one crop gave the farm a cash in
come of $65,000. $60,000 for the fibre, and $5,000
for the seed, oil and oil cake. Choice seed for plant
ing, was a large item in the last named amount.

"Heretofore, the great difficulty experienced by
single farmers in growing large crops of cotton, has
arisen from the want of sufficient help during the
picking season. At Solaris, we always have an
abundance of help. If the needs of the work seem
to demand it, we can put two six -hour reliefs of
pickers into the field each day, with 200 pickers in
each relief. By working such a force, a large crop
can soon be gathered without waste or damage.
The pickers, all receiving the same daily wages,
have a pocket interest in saving the cotton, therefore
clean, careful picking, with a view of preserving a
high grade of fibre, soon becomes the rule. This is
an important matter, as green, immature fibre is
worthless for the purpose of making a strong, dur
able thread or fabric; therefore pickers must be
sufficiently intelligent, to understand why they should

246 SOLARIS FARM.

select only the thoroughly ripened cotton.

1 ' Care is taken to make the pickers as comfortable
as possible. For this purpose, broad, movable awn
ings, are provided to protect them from sun and
showers. Under such circumstances, the picking
season becomes one of fun and frolic, to which our
co-operators, look forward with rejoicing. Six hours
in each day spent in such light, pleasant work, is
hardly regarded as toil. Yet, the amount of cotton
picked by each individual, measured by the number
of hours employed, is fully up to the standard set by
good pickers, under the old system of long hours.
The nimble-fingered women easily bear off the palm,
as the expert pickers. If they were paid by the
pound, their earnings would be greater than those of
the men. Judged by such practical work, women
cannot much longer be classed with the weaker units
of an agricultural colony ! "

"I consider that, as a very important point, well
stated ! But pardon me Fillmore, for the question !
You spoke of better methods for the destruction of
insect enemies. What are those insects, and how
did you manage to destroy them ? "

" Those that proved the most troublesome, were
the cut- worm and boll- worm. Both were hatched
from the eggs laid by certain kinds of moths. Dur
ing the nights of the egg-laying season, for these
moths, they were easily trapped and destroyed. By
the use of a large number of electric light traps, sus
pended from convenient wires, thousands of these
insects were lured to destruction before they could
deposit their eggs. We are encouraged to believe,
that a few years of such wholesale extermination,
will soon rid us of these pests altogether.

"With a view of securing a continuous improve-

SOLARIS FARM. 247

ment in the quality of the cotton, we propose during
the next five years, to carefully select the seed for
each successive planting, from the largest, most pro
lific stalks, that produce the finest fibre. Reasoning
from past experience, I think it will not be difficult
to obtain a yield at least one- third greater than that
of last year; which, on account of extra- superior
quality, will readily sell for a still higher price. A
careful reading of the annual reports, made by our
consuls, who are stationed at the principal com
mercial ports of the world, has taught us, that to sell
well, American cotton must be baled to meet the re
quirements of foreign markets. These markets de
mand that we must use a finer, better quality of
baling burlaps, that will enable us to make closer,
stronger, smoother packages, such as will at once
impress the prospective buyer with the fact that
they are really fine, because in appearance they are
so tight, tidy, and attractive. To secure this, a
small additional expense for baling material, is
money well spent.

"Considering cotton as a cash crop, our experi
ence so far, proves it to be especially adapted to
the needs and methods of co-operative farming. A
single crop has put money enough into our treas
ury, to pay more than double the purchase price of
this farm."

"From your very clear and comprehensive an
swers to my questions, it appears that a co-opera
tive farm, by reason of the number and organization
of its workers, is equipped to carry on the culture of
cotton with more than ordinary profit. This I ac
cept as being absolutely true ! Therefore I hail
your success as a revelation of new possibilities,
which must surely follow in the near future ! "

248 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE DISCUSSION GROWS MORE INTERESTING.

"Now FILLMORE, "said Fern, "I wish to ask, what
have you been doing in the department of experi
mental farming ? "

"Much of the work in that department is still in
such a preliminary stage, that definite results can
not yet be declared. However, among the experi
ments worthy of mention, are the fields containing
the various kinds of true sugar cane, and of sorg
hum or Chinese sugar cane,

"By hybridizing and other methods, we are striv
ing to increase the hardiness of the former and the
crystallizing-sugar product of the latter. By the re
sults already obtained we are encouraged to believe,
that five years hence, we shall have produced a
sugar-cane equal to the best, that may be grown
with much profit, as far north as St. Louis.

' ' Small plots of ground have also been devoted to
growing tea, peppers, sage, hops, ginseng and other
medicinal plants, with such excellent results, that
no doubt they will soon develop into profitable ven
tures.

"The ten acres planted to broom-corn, have pro
duced the necessary material with which to keep
the workers in the broom and brush factory profit
ably employed.

* ' In the line of fibre plants, other than the cotton
crop before mentioned ; we have grown enough
hemp and flax, to supply the needs of our rope and
twine works. In 'bromelia fibrista,' a new fibre
plant, we find a product that bids fair to rival silk

SOLARIS FARM. 249

in producing a fabric of fine, smooth, beautiful
texture.

"In addition to the foregoing, several swampy
plots have been planted to willow, and as a conse
quence, a growing basket- weaving industry has been
developed.

' ' At the very beginning of our work here, while I
was preparing to stock the seed beds in the nursery,
one of our co-operators, a very intelligent and ob
serving young man, who had been railroading in
Mexico for two years previous to his joining our
colony, called my attention to the Mexican quince.
So strongly did he assert his belief that the fruit
would thrive at Solaris, that I soon became a con
vert to his enthusiasm. With the young man for a
guide, two weeks later we were on the way to Mex
ico ; returning shortly, with enough three-year-old
nursery stock, to plant one hundred acres. In ad
dition, we secured the seed for 500,000 young plants.
Since that time, our plantation of quince bushes has
grown finely.

"Last year we gathered the first crop. Not a
large one — perhaps, from fifteen to twenty -five
quinces from each clump of bushes. As the fruit
was large and the bushes thickly planted, the yield
was about one hundred crates to the acre. An
aggregate of ten thousand crates for the entire crop.
We have every reason to believe, that the crop this
year will be double that amount.

"Owing to the fact that this quince thrives best
on the elevated table lands of Mexico, where it is
subject to periods of cold and frost of considerable
length ; it has readily adjusted itself to this loca
tion and climate. We are now able to pronounce it,
a complete success ! It is a magnificent fruit !

250 SOLARIS FARM.

Much superior in size, color, flavor and fragrance,
to our own domestic quince. In keeping qualities
and a firmness of flesh that will bear long distance
transportation without injury, it is fully equal to the
northern quince. In a deep-toned richness of color,
perfection of shape and smoothness of skin, these
peerless quinces are veritable apples of gold ! They
are pictures of beauty which sell at sight ! The
flavor is so fine, that Mexicans eat them with as
much relish as the people of New York eat apples.
Dried, these quinces are delicious !

"In Mexico, large quantities are annually reduced
to a soft mass of pulp, spread out in thin layers, and
dried into sheets of what is termed quince-leather.
Armed with a generous roll of this excellent prepara
tion, the traveler in the desert countries of hot, dry
climates, may bid defiance to thirst. With such a
wealth of recommendations, we were able to sell our
first crop of quinces at a net price of two dollars per
crate; or $20,000 in cash. Hereafter we shall save
the commissions, as we have already received ad
vance orders for our next crop, at $2.25 per crate,
delivered on board the cars here at Solaris. Next
year, we propose to enlarge our quince orchard
by adding another hundred acres. Taking all these
items into consideration, I think we have good
reason to be proud of our first attempt at experi
mental farming in the line of quince culture !

"I have two additional experiments to describe.
They are the last on my list.

"While in Mexico securing the quince plants, I
found what to me was a new variety of table grapes.
They were marked by the following characteristics.
Large clusters, berry large oblong, thin skin, few
seeds, fine sweet pulp, delicious boquet, color when

SOLARIS FARM. 251

ripe, a pale amber green ; ripens about the first of
July. As we found these grapes growing on the
high table lands, I determined to try them at Sol
aris. By the dint of hard work, I procured enough
young vines to set fifty acres. From those vines, we
have rooted enough cuttings in the nursery, to give
us 100,000 young vines, which have now reached the
proper size for setting in the vineyard. This fine
grape we have named ' Solaris Early.'

"Last July we gathered our first crop — 5000 ten-
pound baskets, which we readily sold at the fancy
wholesale price of one dollar per basket. In packing
them for the market we carefully reject small, poor
bunches. The bunches selected are freed from all
bruised berries. The stems of the bunches are then
dipped in melted wax. After this treatment they
are packed in layers of finely cut, soft chaff, made
from clean, bright, fragrant oat straw. The chaff
serves to keep the berries and clusters well apart,
and also to keep out the air, which otherwise would
soon wilt the fruit. Packed in this way the grapes
reach distant markets in perfect condition. In fact,
they are the only good table grapes on the market
at that season ; therefore in choice lots they will al
ways command fancy prices. The experiment with
them has proved so successful that next season, we
shall increase the size of the vineyard to two hun
dred acres.

"By way of a commencement in small fruit culture,
we have fifty acres of ground, devoted to growing a
great variety of berries. They require the work of
a large number of hands during the picking season.
Owing to the perishable nature of such small fruits,
we do not attempt to market them fresh, but make
them into jellies, jams, marmalades, and preserves.

252 SOLARIS FARM.

These we pack in glass jars, of the various sizes de
manded by the wholesale and retail trade. In pre
paring and packing these goods, we use only the best
61 everything. This is in line with our purpose to
establish a reputation of a high degree of excellence,
for each article put on the market under a Solaris
label. By a rigid observance of this rule, we man
age to sell the products of our berry crops at a good
profit.

' 'When the farm books are balanced at the end of
the year, we are encouraged to find that the fifty
acres of berries, has a larger credit than any other
fifty acres on the farm.

' ' In the line of an extension of this kind of farm
ing, we are now preparing for next year, with the
purpose of starting a factory for canning our output
of sweet corn, green peas, beans, asparagus, tomatoes,
peaches, plums and pears. This completes my list
of items under the head of experimental farming,
which Solaris now has to offer. What do you think
of it so far ? "

"I think very well of it indeed ! I am especially
impressed with the Mexican quinces, early grapes,
and the berries. They seem to promise the great
est success, and the largest financial returns. Taken
altogether, I think the outlook for experimental
farming at Solaris, is very bright !

' ' Now, by the way of recapitulation, can you give
to me, a brief statement of the crops grown last
year ; with an approximate one, of the cash derived
therefrom ? "

''That -will not be difficult. I will endeavor to
make my statement as brief as possible.

"By looking at this map, you will observe that
during the season just past, we have cultivated

SOLARIS FARM. 253

about 4,000 acres of land. The crops planted, were
nearly as follows : 1,200 acres to cotton; 1,000 acres
to wheat ; 1, 100 acres divided between corn, oats,
barley and hay ; 150 acres to vegetables, and 550
acres to a miscellaneous variety of crops, such as
the nursery, the quince orchard, the vineyard, the
berries, the gardens, and all ground devoted to ex
perimental culture.

"The aggregate cash income derived from these
crops, which found a market in the outside world,
in addition to those sold to our own people, amounted
in round numbers to $193,000. Of this amount,
$95,000 came from sales of cotton and wheat. Next
year we have good reason to expect a cash income
of $250,000 from our farm products alone. Last
year we realized $57,000 from the sale of our manu
factured products ; such as brick, terracotta, drain
pipes, tiles, earthen ware, furniture, brooms, willow
ware, and the output of several other minor indus
tries. This brought the total income of the farm
for the year, up to $250,000.

"You ask what disposition has been made of this
money? $50,000 has been expended in additional
improvements, machinery, buildings, and live stock
for the farm. $25,000 more, has been added to the
stock in our store, which now has a supply of goods,
sufficient to meet the demands of adjacent settlers
who wish to trade with us. $25,000 is held in our
treasury, for use in any emergency which may
arise. The remaining $150,000, has been placed in
the sinking-fund.

"Our farm-store, has proved a very important in
stitution. The clothing, tailoring, dressmaking ard
millinery departments, have proved surprisingly suc
cessful ; with a constantly increasing demand for

254 SOLARIS FARM.

the goods turned out. This opens a wide field of re
munerative labor, for our women co-operators.

"The 2,400 acres of untilled lands, are now util
ized as follows: 500 acres are covered by a fairly
good native forest ; 500 more, by the scattered tim
ber around the stone quarries, gravel beds, sand
pits, clay deposits and the various other mines.
400 acres are used for pasture, 100 acres belong to
the village site. 200 acres are planted to apple
trees ; 25 acres to pear ; 25 acres to peach ; and 200
acres to nut-bearing trees. 100 acres are now being
prepared for the addition to the quince orchard.
Another 100 acres for the vineyard. The remain
ing 250 acres, for other desirable varieties of fruit.

"Of the 100 acres set apart for the village site,
only forty, are at present occupied by the streets in
use, the buildings, and the public square. The re
maining sixty acres, are laid out with walks, drives,
lawns, oval, circular, and star-shaped plots. The
latter, are filled with choice roses and flowers. The
ovals and circles, are thickly planted with fruit
trees and ornamental shrubbery. The fruits, such
as cherries, plums, peaches, pears and figs, have all
been the result of experimental potting and plant
ing by the school children. The same is true in a
large measure, of the rose gardens and the shrub
bery.

"The effect of this amusing work on the children,
is most excellent. A taste for the beautiful be
comes permanent, while they acquire a fund of use
ful knowledge about the care and culture of trees,
and also how to enjoy themselves in the conscious
zeal of pushing forward some useful employment;
which will make them stronger, healthier and hap
pier. With the advent of spring, comes a wealth of

SOLARIS FARM. 255

bloom to reward their toil — a paradise of beauty and
fragrance ; everywhere, clouds of pink sprays and
snowy petals charm the sight.

"This last item, like a long, ornamental nourish,
must conclude my summing up of the distribution of
crops, the division of forest, pasture and fruit lands,
over the whole farm ; with its complete chain of fin
ancial resources, and its outlook for the coming
season. I hope I have not made my recapitulation
too lengthy! Also, that I have succeeded in answer
ing your questions satisfactorily."

"Your summing up has shown surprising results !
The magnitude of the cash income, is really a crown
of triumph for co-operative farming ! I congratu
late you, and the people of Solaris, most heartily !
In justice to the able answers to my questions, I
must say that many times you have answered, even
before I could frame them into words. With each
succeeding reply, my wonder and delight has in
creased. I have discovered many new possibilities,
in pleasant, productive and profitable methods for
farm work, of which I have never before dreamed.
Now that you have made them plain to me in such
a charming manner ; I am beginning to understand
how it is, that Solaris can produce such quantities
of marketable goods, that can so easily be turned
into cash. I have yet a number of important ques
tions remaining unanswered, but they do not per
tain to growing crops."

256 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XXXII.

SOCIAL SOLUTIONS.

"I NOW wish," said Fern, "to consider the social
and domestic interests of the colony. How do you
manage to keep up the necessary degree of cleanli
ness, demanded by perfect sanitation in the living
rooms of the co-operators, without seriously disturb
ing the privacy of the family. "

"That is a delicate matter, which by choice of the
co-operators themselves, easily adjusts itself to the
requirements of the committee members, who are
chosen to take charge of the tri-weekly scrubbing
and sweeping. The detail for this work for each
week, is made by the assignment committee.

"They select from a class of workers, known as
both skillful and trustworthy. All rooms which the
occupants desire to have cleaned, are left open. All
rooms that are found locked, are reported to the
chairman of the committee, whose duty it is to in
spect them at a later period, while the occupants are
present. It is a matter which is well understood by
the members of the company, that rooms not access
ible to the regular cleaning force, must be kept sweet
and tidy by the occupants themselves, during hours
which might be otherwise devoted to rest, amuse
ment or study.

' ' Under the pressure of such conditions, even the
most exclusive, soon voluntarily open all their rooms
to the authorized force. Causes for complaint
against any member of the sanitary, inspection or
assignment committee, are corrected by the voters
at monthly elections, held for the purpose of select-

SOLARIS FARM. 257

ing new committees. This system so appeals to that
innate sense of justice and harmony reigning in the
hearts of our people^ that after a few months of ex
perience, they are ready to co-operate heartily in
any sort of discipline which may be necessary to
secure the welfare of the entire colony,

"The peculiar charm of colony-life appeals to*
them so strongly, that to be voted out of the organ
ization on account of violation of rules, or of any im
proper conduct, is universally considered as a most
dreadful calamity. The possibility of such a fate,
like some hidden spectre, acts as a restraining in
fluence, which holds in check the most lawless,
stubborn, or self-opinionated. It soon makes them
zealous, peace-loving and obedient. Having once
tasted the sweets of the co-operative system, they
have a wholesome dread of being obliged to return
to the cruel bitterness of the old competitive system!

"Among the most potent charms which have
proved so attractive to Solaris workers, is the con
dition of health, comfort and beauty, which sur
rounds the laborer in every department of the farm.

"In store, work-shop, seed-room, dairy, mill, fac
tory or packing-houso, the rooms are large, the
light is abundant, ventilation perfect, ceilings high ;
while both walls and ceilings are so beautifully and
artistically decorated, that love for the beautiful in
the esthetic nature, swells and grows to be a domin
ant passion. This passion soon takes hold of both
heart and brain, becoming the foundation of a char
acter-building-work of high order. Thus happily
environed, our people feast their eyes and merrily
sing away the hours, which are devoted to tasks
they have learned to love. The tendency of these
things, is ever toward the good, the right, the pure

9

258 SOLARIS FARM.

and true ! Under such conditions, the demon of
discontent, evil thinking and evil doing, cannot thrive!
His power wanes, he flies to the more congenial sur
roundings which mark the dingy, ill smelling, over
crowded work-shops of the competitive system !

"No wonder, when away from Solaris, our people
are so anxious to return ! They come back con
vinced, that they have fortunately escaped from the
thralldom of a debasing, cruel system. A system
which — utterly ignoring the sacredness of human
life — in a frenzy of selfish greed, has, so far as the
toilers of the world are concerned, turned the tri
umphs of modern civilization into the mockery of a
bitter curse ! As affecting themselves, our people
perceive that, under the protecting mantle of finan
cial conditions which prevail here at Solaris, they,
as members of the company, are sure to secure
every benefit, profit or advantage, that may flow
from the use of the best and most expensive kinds
of labor-saving machinery. Once aware of all the
facts, thereafter, they cannot under any circum
stances, be induced to return to employment under
the old system.

4 'The advantage in favor of co-operative work is
so great, that among our women co-operators, there
is a general desire to have it utilized to the utmost ;
especially in all kinds of housework. The intro
duction of such a wholesale system of house-clean
ing, soon demands a better class of sweepers, to take
the place of the housewife's broom and dust pan.

' ' Large suction sweepers, worked by a powerful in
haling bellows, which swiftly and silently suck up,
from carpet, furniture, and curtains, all particles of
accumulated dust, are the perfected instruments
chosen ; unlike the ordinary dust-raising machines,

SOLARIS FARM. 259

which must be followed by an army of dusting cloths,
these suction machines do perfect work, leaving the
air of the renovated room pure, wholesome and fair
ly free from floating dust, with its accompanying
cloud of disease-laden germs. Many similar accom
plishments in other' departments of housework, soon
convince all opponents, that personal prejudice must
not be allowed to interfere with the working of the
system."

"Pardon me Fillmore ! If at this point I interrupt
you, with a question which I wish to preface with
this remark ! In the estimation of most women, well-
kept hands, are considered as a rule, to indicate the
measure of the owners refinement. According to my
judgment, there is nothing which so quickly destroys
the contour and suppleness of the hands, and that
much prized, white, velvety smoothness of skin,
as dishwashing. As a matter of fact, the woman's
self-respect is involved in the loss. For this reason,
I believe women dislike that disagreeable part of
housework more than any other. Premising that
my theory is true, how can you manage this matter
at Solaris, in order to avoid trouble?"

' * I accept your question as a welcome interruption !
It gives me a chance to tell you more about our
kitchen work, which I feel sure will interest you
greatly!

"For reasons which I shall state presently, our
women workers do not desire to avoid frequent six-
hour details as dishwashers at the restaurant. By
our new methods, the task is easily and quickly ac
complished.

"The washers are not required to put their hands
into hot or cold water during the process. Travel
ing carriers on either side of the dining rooms, run

260 SOLARIS FARM.

to and from the kitchen. In one, the food comes to
the tables, in response to phone orders from the
waiter. In the other, the dishes are returned to the
kitchen. There, the washers scrape the bones and
rejected food into the waiting barrels. These bar
rels when filled, go to the feeding yards of the pigs
and poultry.

"The dishes, after being scraped, are then placed
in the washing machine. This machine, run by elec
tric power, is a wide, deep, round-bottomed trough,
built in a circle twenty feet in diameter. Along the
bottom of this trough, is a moving track, which
travels slowly around the circle with its train of
metal carriers. On these carriers are placed the
dishes as they come from the hands of the scrapers.
When the carrier thus laden commences its circular
journey, the dishes — placed well apart — are subjected
to dashing jets of warm, soapy water, and then to
more torrential jets of hot, and very hot pure water.

' ' Comfortably seated, at convenient points around
the machine, the washers control the force and quan
tity of the water jets, and whenever necessary,
assist the cleansing process with their long-handled
swabs. When this process is finished, the dishes ar
rive at the drying boards, so hot that by the time
the wipers with their thick towels have placed them
in the racks where they belong, all are perfectly
clean and dry.

"Our pots, sauce pans, stew pans and kettles, are
all designed for electric cooking, and are made in
shapes best adapted for easy cleaning. For these,
an additional washing-sink is provided. Over this
sink, connected with the electric wires, we have
rigged three hanging spindles, of as many different
sizes. These spindles can be raised or lowered by

SOLARIS FARM. 261

the operator, while they are in motion. Each spindle
is armed on every side with loose wings of alternat
ing wire scrapers and dish-cloths. The vessel to be
cleansed is placed on the movable carrier at the
bottom of the sink. Passing under a spindle of the
proper size, the spindle is lowered, and at once begins
to revolve with a strong, rotary pressure. This
searching, chafing pressure, in connection with the
hot- water jets, soon cleans and polishes the most
obstinate among the kettles.

"The kitchen and dish pantry combined, is a
very large, well-lighted, well- ventilated room. This
room is constantly kept sweet and comfortable by
electric fans. The work is light, and never mon
otonous. Only two, of the six hours devoted to
kitchen duty, are spent in the active work of dish
washing. During the remaining hours, the washers
take lessons in cookery, from the chief and the
two assistants. These three important ofiicials, are
chosen from the ranks of competent volunteers.
They are responsible for the kitchen work. They
plan all the meals, and direct the work of the under
cooks. The system soon comes to work like a charm !
I can truthfully say, that it gives general satis
faction.

"The success attending this extension of co-oper
ative methods, to embrace the entire list of worry-
producing details which belong to general house
work, is hailed with delight by our matrons and
maidens. They keenly appreciate the great bless
ing of this movement, which has rescued them from
the harrassing, health-destroying drudgery, of a
house wife on a small farm. They well know the
sad story, which comes from thousands of such
farms, where isolated lives, overburden of cares

262 SOLARIS FARM.

and long hours of irritating, never-ending toil, have
produced such fearful, mental depression, that as a
result, we find six hundred farmers' wives, among
the inmates of asylums for the insane, in each one
of the States of Michigan and Kansas. The propor
tion for other agricultural States, is doubtless much
the same. What a horrible array of statistics, this
is to contemplate ! What an indictment against ex
isting agricultural conditions ! What a sad fate, to
overtake the mothers of so many sons and daughters
of the farms of this Republic ! Who can measure
the intensity of the agony and suffering, these child
ren may thus inherit ! What possible argument,
can speak more eloquently, or call more loudly, for
the immediate adoption of co-operative farming by
our agricultural people ?

"In the matter of frequent bathing to maintain
personal cleanliness ; the popularity, with both old
and young, of our fine hot and cold, plunge, swim
ming and shower baths, free to all, which are kept
open in connection with the laundry ; proves con
clusively, that the habit of cleanliness, like all other
habits, is the result of environment ; or in other
words, of opportunity and the strong impulse of
social example.

' ' In treating your question as though it contained
several sub-divisions, I may perhaps have made my
answer too lengthy. Do you find it so ?"

" Oh no ! On the contrary it is clear, brief, inter
esting and to the point ! You have told me just
what I most desired to know ! I perceive that the
practical working of a co-operative colony, answers
a great many puzzling questions, which hitherto,
we have passed by as hopeless problems. From
the commencement of this work, I have been con-

SOLARIS FARM. 263

cerned, lest the discipline necessary to maintain a
proper working harmony in such a large colony,
should prove a fruitful source of discontent. I am
rejoiced to find that my fears were groundless !

"This brings me to my second question. Do you
find homesickness among the colonists, a frequent
cause of discontent ? "

' ' On the contrary, the number of such cases has
been surprisingly small. Owing, doubtless, to the
marked change from isolated conditions of small farm
life, to the superior advantages for education, amuse
ment, social enjoyment, and the all-pervading en
thusiasm of congenial, co-operative work ; which here
at Solaris, leaves no time for such fits of brooding
over the past, as usually result in that severe mental
depression, which we call homesickness. Perhaps
one individual in fifty, is so constituted that home
sickness becomes a serious illness. In such cases,
the executive committee is authorized to grant the
necessary leave of absence. Always providing of
course, that the applicant is willing to comply with
a rule of the organization, which assigns the pay of
the absentee to the general service fund, for the
number of days such absence may continue. A strict
observance of this rule, leaves no cause for complaint
by those who remain.

"In considering the question from another stand
point, we find the general tone and disposition of our
people, has been raised to a much higher, happier
pitch, by the evolution of the musical spirit, intro
duced and inspired by the work of the dancing and
musical clubs. Stimulated by the prizes offered by
the general manager, a great number of beautiful
farm songs have been completed, and adapted to a
large variety of farm work. These songs have been

264 SOLARIS FARM.

taken up by a goodly number of glee clubs, organized
for the purpose from among those members of the
musical club, who had the good fortune to possess a
fine quality of voice.

"Careful training and steady practice, soon en
abled these lesser vocal organizations, to render the
entire list of songs, with a mellow smoothness, an
inspiring swing of rythm, and a well rounded tone of
perfection, which was really quite surprising. These
vocalists, scattered through the fifties and hundreds
of farm workers in the hay, harvest, corn and cotton
fields ; the nursery, gardens, orchards and vine
yards ; the dairy, mills, factories and packing- houses ;
the brick works, mines and quarries ; the workshops
of the store, and the assembly meetings of the co-
operators ; became competent teachers, who, by
their leadership and example, soon made it possible
for every member of the colony, to master both
words and music of all the songs. This course of
vocal training proved so fascinating, that our people
literally absorbed it ! The children, even more
quickly than the adults !

1 1 Thoroughly tested in the practical work of every
department of the farm ; the beneficial effect has
proved a marvel, which has far exceeded the ex
pectations of our musical enthusiasts. Many fine
voices have been discovered, developed and trained.
The benign influence of this musical wave, has shown
a constant tendency to extend its sway in all direct
ions. This blending of voices, has added a hitherto
unknown zest to the work ; and a stronger tie to
every association connected with it. Best of all, as
directly affecting the question under discussion ! It
has proved a most potent factor in driving away the
spirit of ill -humor, inharmony, and discontent ; also

SOLARIS FARM. 265

in breaking the charm of old associations, home ties,
and retrospective, social memories, so conducive to
attacks of homesickness. The exhilarating, helpful
rythm, of these inspiring songs, has given an added
force to the working power of the farm. It has
largely reduced the fatigue, and increased the amount
of work that can be performed in a given time.
Further, we find the general mental, physical and
spiritual health of our people, correspondingly im
proved.

"A curious fact, is disclosed by these vocal ex
periments. It is this, that the vibration of musical
tones, in the blending voices of a mixed multitude,
produces a moral, mental and spiritual harmony,
such as cannot be achieved in any other way. In
point of fact, we get a composite expression of the
highest soul element of the mass — a new phase of
the exceeding fruitfulness of co-operative effort !
It may be stated in conclusion, that there comes to
the minds of our people, an added power, flowing
from the general hypnotic effect, of harmonious co
operation. This power brings with it a right con
ception of human life, in which a certain amount of
necessary, productive labor, becomes the keynote,
which completes a perfect anthem, and more sym
metrically rounds out the full measure, melody and
grandeur, of an individual existence. What think
you of these results ? "

' ' They are very wonderful indeed ! They reflect
much credit on the excellent work inspired by the
dancing and musical clubs ; also on the genius and
culture of the vocalists, and the marvelous efficiency
of a well-directed co-operative effort. This triumph
in a new field, which so increases the possibilities of
soul expression, suggests the use of music as a

266 SOLARIS FARM.

prime factor in all future systems for ethical culture.

"Now Fillmore, please tell me. How has the ex
ample of Solaris farm, affected the industrial, social,
and political situation in this town and county ? "

"The effect has been favorable in every way!
The attractiveness of our social organization ! the
financial success which has crowned our farming
and manufacturing operations ; the opportunities
offered for young men to learn so much of the in
dustrial arts ; the short hours of light labor ; the
long hours of leisure for rest, study and amusement;
the educational, health - giving character, of the
amusements ; the fascination, of the club-system of
education for adults ; the irresistible charm, of the
dancing and vocal entertainments ; the generous
wages paid to the co-operators, which affords for
them such an abundant supply of food, clothing and
books ; the fine quality and perfect reliability of the
large assortment of goods in the farm-store ; the
advantages of a rational scheme of insurance, which
stands as an absolute safe-guard against accidents,
sickness and old-age ; the improved conditions for
women, which largely relieves them from the irri
tating, nerve-destroying worry, of a constant burden
of household cares ; the fostering care for children,
which insures for them ideal opportunities for birth,
unfoldment and education ; the manifest advantage
of farming on a scale large enough to allow the use
of the latest and best labor-saving machinery ; the
astonishing array of huge, modern barns, storing,
curing and packing houses ; the wonderful cheap
ness and utility of the electric power ; the long list
of farm implements, many of them especially in
vented, which followed the introduction of this mag
ic-working power ; the wide publicity given to these

SOLARIS FARM. 267

things through the columns of the Solaris Sentinel,
our weekly farm paper, sent free to friends of the
colonists, and to all who ask for it ; considered alto
gether as a comprehensive whole, is a startling com
bination, which has arrested the attention, aroused
the interest and provoked the astonishment of sur
rounding communities, far and near. As a conse
quence, our office has been overwhelmed with a flood
of correspondence from interested enquirers, fol
lowed by an ever-increasing stream of visitors to
Solaris, to see for themselves, the verity of this
twentieth century model of farm innovation. In order
to answer the great bulk of queries, emanating from
these two sources, a series of articles describing the
object and purpose, and explaining the details of the
enterprise, has been prepared for the columns of
the Sentinel. With an extra large edition of this
newspaper, we are prepared to supply as many in
terested people as may apply.

"The applications to join the company, made by
progressive young farmers in this and adjacent
counties, have become so frequent and persistent,
that finally we have consented to prepare the lead
ers for another co-operative colony, which we pro
pose to locate on a certain one, of the nine remaining
Fenwick-farm-sites, which happens to be in this
county, only ten miles d-stant from Solaris. This
preparatory class, is limited to fifty people ; one-
half females, married couples ranging from eighteen
to twenty-five years of age, preferred. The course
for this class, contemplates one year of practical
work, embracing all departments of the farm.

"The membership of this class, was filled six
months ago. Six months hence, the graduates will
be prepared to organize the new colony. I am

268 SOLARIS FARM.

greatly interested in the scheme, and have promised
to aid in every possible way.

"To this body of pupils, is referred all applica
tions from prospective co-operators. Judging from
the mass of applications already accumulated, when
the time of organization for the new colony arrives,
the list of eligible applicants will probably contain a
thousand names. The outlook for the new farm
company, seems unusually bright !

' ' Both board and tuition for these pupils, are do
nated by Solaris Farm. At the end of the year,
$100 in Solaris scrip, will be paid to each one, as
some sort of compensation for the year's work. This
arrangement is accepted by the pupils, as fair and
perfectly satisfactory.

"Referring to the relations existing between the
Solaris Farm Company, and the township and county
officials. It is noteworthy, that no serious friction
has arisen. One year ago, a large proportion of
town officers, including the assessor, town clerk,
magistrate and chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
were chosen from Solaris. Owing to the small,
much- scattered, population of this county, the pres
ent county sheriff, auditor and treasurer, are also
Solaris co-operators. The manifest integrity of this
institution, seems to be accepted by the voters of
the county, as a guarantee of the honesty and abil
ity of its members. The significance of this approval,
so early in the history of the movement, augurs
well for the future dominancy of our social and in
dustrial system, as a political factor in both town
and county.

* ' The Solaris Company has erected a roomy, sub
stantial building, for the use of the town officials,
for which a moderate rent is paid from the town-

SOLARIS FARM. 269

treasury. The county officers have secured one hun
dred acres of land two miles from Solaris, just out
side the farm limits. On this, they propose to erect
a suitable brick building for the county offices.
The farm company, now has the contract to furnish
the brick and erect the building. Pending its com
pletion, the county officials occupy rented quarters
in Solaris, which is by far the largest business
center in the county. Prom this statement of the
situation, you will observe that our co-operative vote
already holds a balance of power, which controls the
policy of both town and county. With the advent of
Colony number 2, the interests of co-operation in
this county, are secure for all time. Meanwhile, we
are encouraged to hope that before the close of the
twentieth century, what co-operation has already
achieved at Solaris, may be accomplished in every
town, county and state in the Republic !

"You ask, what disposition is made of the salaries
of such co-operators as are elected to fill town and
county offices ?

"They are paid in scrip. The salaries or fees
which they receive from town or county, are turned
into the company treasury. As these co-operators,
in holding such offices, are in a position to materi
ally aid the co-operative movement. They are just
ly excused from farm-work, whenever their official
duties require attention."

' ' Splendid ! my dear Pillmore ! Your report is
very interesting, and even more encouraging ! It
seems the beginning of a fulfillment of my father's
hopes, dreams and prophecies ! I am anxious for
the time to come, when he can tell you how much he
is pleased with your work ! "

270 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

SOLARIS SCRIP.

" RETURNING again, Fillmore, to the financial oper
ations of the farm ; with such a volume of business
to transact, how do you manage to get along with
out having recourse to some local bank ? "

"To a large extent, we do our own banking busi
ness. Our treasurer, has his office in the cash room
of the store. In this room we have a large vault,
containing a fire-proof safe of the latest type. The
books, records and funds of the company, are all
kept in this safe. For our commercial business, we
have selected one of the principal banks of St. Louis
as our bank of deposit. A large percentage of pur
chases for the store and farm are made in that city,
which is also a market for the bulk of our farm
produce.

' ' The farm company has an office near the bank,
where some member of the executive committee, or
other representative of the company, may be found
every business day of the year. It is the duty of
this agent to attend to purchases, consignments and
sales ; also to have charge of all business transacted
through the bank of deposit. Taking care, to keep
the amount of available funds up to the ten thousand
dollar mark. To do this, it sometimes becomes nec
essary for the company to issue drafts on the bank
of deposit for thirty, sixty and ninety days. These
drafts are accepted by dealers, for purchases made
in Chicago, Cincinnati, Philadelphia or New York,
the same as cash.

"As borrowers, our only dealings have been with

SOLARIS FARM. 271

you. ' In these dealings, at times when much in
need of more capital, we have not been required to
pay interest. Now, having returned our borrowed
capital, and being free from debt, we have grown
more independent and self - sustaining ; therefore
more averse to the idea of paying interest to any
one. We are convinced by past experience, that all
necessity for incurring interest-bearing obligations
can be avoided. The use of Solaris Scrip in all inter
colonial transactions, has proved a most potent fac
tor in helping us to arrive at such a fortunate con
clusion. By its use, ninety per cent of our business
can be transacted on a cash basis, without using one
cent of actual cash. In addition, we can use it as a
basis on which to borrow. To illustrate ! Suppose
we need ten thousand dollars to replenish the stock
of goods in the store, pending the sale of products
on hand. We borrow that amount from the insur
ance fund, the sum being part of the accumulated
profits on sales at the store and restaurant. We
then replace this sum by scrip of the same face
value. This scrip, to the pensioner or beneficiaries,
is the same as cash. When they have drawn and
spent it, the debt is cancelled. No interest is paid.
The store and restaurant become the clearing house,
through which these drafts against the resources of
the farm are liquidated. In the same way, tempor
ary loans can be made from other funds, whenever
it is for the benefit of the united interests of the co-
operators to do so.

"How is it possible, you ask, to keep perfect con
trol of such a large issue of scrip, with a certainty
that all in use is genuine ?

"That is a matter which is easily regulated by
our simple system of issue. In the first place, we

272 SOLARIS FARM.

print the scrip here at Solaris, from plates which,
when not in use, are kept in the safe, in the custody
of the treasurer. The five denominations issued,
are as follows : five, two, and one dollar bills; which,
together with the fifty and twenty -five- cent, frac
tional-currency scrip, make up the list. Every de
nomination has a numbered series, of ten thousand.
Each series, with the stubs attached to the bills,
is bound in book form. When issued, each stub re
maining in the book, will show the date of issue, seri
al number, and amount of the issued bill. When can
celled, the bills are returned to the book, and again
attached to the stub to which they belong. At any
time, an examination of the books of issued and un
issued scrip in the hands of the treasurer, will give
the amount outstanding. The co-operators are re
quested to keep a record of the serial numbers of
the scrip they hold or handle, and to report the loss
or destruction of such as may happen. A history of
the loss is attached to the stub, and the amount of
the bill carried to the profit and loss account of the
company.

"If the genuineness of any piece of scrip should
be questioned, a comparison with the stub should
show the same date, number, amount and serrated
edges, made by the peculiar pattern of the perfor
ator belonging to that series. If so, the bill must be
genuine. As time passes, we are more than ever
convinced of the wonderful advantage gained by the
use of this scrip. Our people find it much lighter
and more desirable to carry and use, than the same
amount of gold or silver coin ; therefore they fre
quently request to be allowed to exchange coin for
scrip. In summing up my replies to your questions:
it seems probable, from the constantly increasing

SOLARIS FARM. 273

volume of business, that the company will soon be
obliged to take a charter that will authorize it to do
a complete banking business."

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE INSURANCE OFFERED BY CO-OPERATIVE
FARMING.

"I NOTICE, Pillmore, that you mention the bor
rowing of ten thousand dollars from the insurance
fund ; the same being a part of the accumulated
profits on the business of the store and restaurant.
Tell me ; how is it possible for so large a sum to be
saved in such a short time ? "

" A complete answer to your question, will bring
up the whole subject of insurance ; which pre
sents some interesting problems. I will first try to
give you the basis for such an amount of savings.
The net per-deim pay of $2.50 for each adult mem
ber of the company, will give an annual income of a
little more than $900. If we include an added pro
rata for the children, each one will spend annually
at least $450 with the store for goods ; and $350 with
the restaurant for food Our statistics show much
larger sums ; but these will do for an estimate.
Taking these figures for a basis, we find that the
annual sales made to our own people by the store
and restaurant combined, reach the startling sum of
$400, 000. A net profit of five per cent on this amount,
gives $20,000 each year to the insurance fund. At
this rate, the profits for thirty months, reach the
goodly sum of $50,000. To which we may add $2,-

274 SOLARIS FARM.

500 more, as profits on sales to the amount of $50,000,
made during that period by the store and restaurant,
to people from surrounding communities. Alto
gether, we have a grand up-to-date total for the in
surance fund of |52, 500. These profits will continue
to increase with larger sales to outside people ; also
with the increased wages or incomes of the co-oper
ators, as the products and profits of the farm con
tinue to grow.

' ' Such favorable statistics are very encouraging.
They demonstrate that only a five per cent profit
will be needed, to meet all future demands against
the insurance fund, even when the colony has its
maximum number of children and superannuated co-
operators. The remaining profits, which in some
departments of the store are large, may wisely be
devoted to educational and missionary work.

"Prom another point of view, this eloquent array
of figures, has an additional value. They show con
clusively, that the restaurant alone furnishes a home
market annually for $175,000 worth of farm produce:
beef, mutton, pork, lard, honey, syrup, milk, butter,
cheese, eggs, poultry, vegetables, fruits and grains.

"If we consider the sales made by the store, we
find after deducting the cost of raw material, that at
least fifty per cent of the goods purchased by our
people, are really the products of the skilled labor
of the farm : such as crockery, furniture, willow
ware, picture frames, brushes, clothing, underwear,
bed furnishings, and goods from the tailoring, dress
making and millinery departments. From this show
ing it will appear, that the store becomes a home
market each year, for farm products to the amount
of $112,500. To this, let us add the sums of sales
through the restaurant, and those made through the

SOLARIS FARM. 275

markets of the outside world. Altogether, we have
a grand total of $787,500 for the market value of
farm products last year.

"Does this exhibit appeal to you as a reasonable
basis for the accumulated savings named in your
questions ? "

' ' I am sure the exhibit has astonished me greatly !
Your figures and statements are both fascinating
and convincing. They are all, most excellent argu
ments in favor of co-operative methods. I now per
ceive that even on the basis of present conditions, a
five per cent profit turned into the insurance fund, at
the end of the first ten years, will amount to the ex
traordinary sum of $200,000. With this magnificent
fund, you can afford to extend the scope of your
original plan ! How will you dispose of it ? At
what age do you propose to retire the active
workers ? "

* ' Yes, our original plans have been changed, and
very much enlarged. The insurance fund has grown
so rapidly, that it was deemed wise to expend a por
tion of it, in building a hospital for the accommoda
tion of our farm people, and perhaps a few outside
patients. .Last year, a two-story and basement brick
building, was erected just in the heart of our finest
shrubbery dotted lawn, some distance from the pub
lic square. It is large enough for about one hun
dred patients. Viewed from any point, it presents
a charming appearance. It is conceded by all to be
the handsomest structure on the farm. Inside, with
its polished floors, magnificent windows, large rooms,
high, beautifully frescoed walls and ceilings, dainty
couches, cozy chairs, and wide, breezy halls, with
picture- laden walls ; every condition is present to
satisfy the highest ideal of sick-room comfort.

276 SOLARIS FARM,

Brighter, sunnier, more health-inspiring rooms never
soothed, charmed or healed a nerve shattered patient!

' ' Under the supervision of the sanitary committee,
the hospital at present, is in charge of a young sur
geon employed by the company. His services are
utilized in teaching and preparing a class of trained
nurses. He also teaches the members of the chem
istry and physiology clubs, in their new study rooms
at the hospital. At a later period this surgeon will
be superseded by two of our own people. A young
woman and a young man, both with some previous
knowledge of pharmacy, who have been in charge
of the drug department at the store ; have recently
developed a strong desire to take a thorough course
of medicine and surgery at some leading school.
Upon the recommendation of the general manager,
approved by a unanimous vote of the co-operators,
the expense of this schooling is to be taken from the
insurance fund, with the understanding however,
that after graduating, they are to relieve the com
pany of the expense of a hired surgeon, by taking
permanent charge of the hospital, or as our people
have christened it, the ' Temple of health. '

"Relative to the question of retiring members of
the company; much thought and discussion on the
part of our officers and co-operators, has been re
quired, to properly and wisely fix the age at which
such retirement shall take place.

"Many important questions have been considered.
Our present colony, as you know, is composed of
young people, as a rule not yet thirty years of age.
Individually they possess strong, disease-resisting,
vital organizations, which have been reinforced by
harmonious, mental and physical development. This
immunity from disease to such a large extent, has

SOLARIS FARM. 277

been still further strengthened and fortified, by the
beneficial effects of our organized sanitary, social
and industrial methods. These methods have lifted
the weary burden of toil from our people, and sub
stituted therefor, a light exhilarating labor, simply
healthful exercise. Under such favorable conditions,
our workers ought to reach the age of fifty, with
health and vigor still unimpared. For the reasons
named, very few of our co-operators, outside the
ranks of the mother's club, are at present entitled on
account of either illness or accident, to draw their
wages from the insurance fund. Fortunately, so far,
not one has become permanently disabled ! All
things considered, it was not unexpected, when a
final vote on the question was taken, that a majority
was found to be in favor of fixing the age of retire
ment at fifty years.

' ' This decision will give the farm company, twenty
years in which to prepare for the event. In the
light of our past experience, no one doubts our
ability to accumulate an adequate fund, with which
to meet the additional drain upon it. This drain
will prove a heavy one, as the retired pay of the co-
operators, who have reached the age of fifty, has
been fixed at two- thirds of their present pay, that is,
fifty dollars per month or $600 per annum. Premis
ing that the maximum number on the retired list at
any one time will not exceed fifty; the total annual
retired pay will then amount to $30,000.

"The following plan has been devised to meet this
additional expenditure. It has been demonstrated
conclusively, that five years hence, the income of
the farm, will warrant the increase of the wages of
each member of the company, to $1,500 per year.
At least $1,200 of this amount, will be spent at the

278 SOLARIS FARM.

store or restaurant. We shall then have a new
basis for calculating the five per cent profit for the
insurance fund ; that is, $600,000 annually, which
will give $30,000 each year for the fund. Allowing
that savings at the present rate, $20,000 per annum,
for seven and one- half years, aggregating $150,000 ;
will prove ample for incidental needs, until the time
for the retirement of the first co-operator ! We cal
culate that fifteen years of savings on the new basis,
will give us twenty years hence, a fund of $450,000
to commence with.

"If practical experience should prove that larger
savings are necessary ; an additional two and one-
half per cent profit, may be set aside for this fund,
without seriously curtailing the sums devoted to
educational and missionary purposes. This will
surely cover all possible contingencies. More especi
ally, as seven and one-half per cent of all retired
pay, will come back to the fund as profits on pur
chases — active workers having taken the place of
the retired members. Considering the generous an
nuity provided by this insurance, together with the
fact that the wants of the pensioners will become
fewer as age increases ; doubtless, at the end of
each year, many of them will turn back into the
fund, considerable sums of unused pay.

"As another important factor, connected with the
question of this kind of insurance, it should be well
understood, that after reaching the age of retire
ment, our members do not cease to be valuable pro
ductive workers, either for the financial gain of the
colony, or for the general welfare of the movement,
which the colony represents. On the contrary, in
many cases, their services are liable to become more
valuable than ever before. Between the ages of

SOLARIS FARM. 279

fifty and sixty, they remain subject to assignments
to serve on committees, to act as traveling agents
for the company, to represent the company as lectu
rers and organizers, for the spread of the movement;
to act as aids to the teachers in the schools and the
numerous clubs. They are also eligible to election
as town, county, state or United States officials. In
committee work, connected with the store and the
various factories, their riper judgment, based on
many years of experience, would prove especially
valuable : often by timely advice, they would be
able to save for the company in one transaction, an
amount in money more than equal to their entire
wages for the year.

"In another way their services would prove equal
ly advantageous. With such an increase of leisure,
there would come to these retired co operators, a
desire, and the opportunity, to enter more actively
into the practical work of the scientific clubs. If
inclined, they could take up all kinds of scientific
research ; making themselves especially useful in
the practical, productive and profitable work of the
educational, microscopical, chemical and photograph
ic clubs. Those who had a talent for invention,
could then devote as much time, energy and thought
toiit, as they chose. To aid them, they would have
the advantage of an acquired skill in the use of
tools, and of all kinds of complicated machinery,
which would be a part of the outfit belonging to the
thoroughly equipped machine shop at their disposal.
In the laboratory, they could find the books, maps,
and drawings, necessary to bring them up to date in
any line of invention which they might chose to
enter.

"Taking these important factors into consider-

280 SOLARIS FARM.

ation, we discover that our co-operative inventor,
would be armed to conquer his subject by a magnifi
cent equipment, such as an ordinary inventor could
not hope to command.

"So ably reinforced by the advantages enumer
ated, our corps of inventors, of both sexes, would be
inspired by a labor of love. Unbiased by any sel
fish motives, they would be working for the farm and
for humanity. With no cause to distrust their fel
lows, they could openly discuss their discoveries,
without fear of having them stolen; consequently,
they could have the willing assistance of all the in
ventive minds in the colony, in developing and per
fecting their original inventions. This would be an
experience utterly unheard of, in the annals of an in
dustry based on the competitive system. It would
be the beginning of co-operative invention as an art.
It would mark another great step in harmonious,
practical and profitable co-operative thinking, that
would lead to discoveries of vast importance to the
world; discoveries that could not be made in any
other way. It is difficult for even the most enthusi
astic optimist to imagine, wThat a revolution in the
inventive world, will follow the introduction of such
superior co-operative methods ; or what wonders
will be wrought by them, before the close of the first
half of the twentieth century!

"Let us consider what they might do for our
superannuated farmers. Quickened by such an added
potency of perfect, co-operative, mental, conditions,
our inventors would naturally aspire to still higher
achievements. Each year they would be able to
produce many valuable inventions, which could not
be used by the farm, but which could be sold by £he
company after being patented, for good round sums

SOLARIS FARM.

in cash ! In this way it becomes evident, tnat our
old members might prove the most prolific cash pro
ducers on the farm. It is even possible, and quite
probable, that the sale of one invention, might bring
to the company, a sum of money, more than equal to
the combined pensions of the retired co-operators
for one year. From this particular source, would
flow an additional fund for educational work in push
ing the movement before the public.

"Viewed in this light, to be retired on two- thirds
pay at the age of fifty, is simply a matter of justice !
When justice is done, the mission of charity is
finished !

' ' In considering the growing interest in the insur
ance question among people of the outside world, we
find great numbers of laboring people, and of small
farmers everywhere, who are beginning to under
stand that it is a question of vital importance, an
open gateway through which they may gain access
to the broad fields of abundance. Every day, both
by observation aud experience, they are taught that
without the aid of some special insurance, nine out
of ten who start in business fail. Also, that nine
farmers out of ten, who start with a meagre capital,
after twenty years of constant toil, find themselves
the slaves of some money lender who holds a mort
gage on the farm. These mortgages are largely the
result of a hopeful struggle on the farmer's part, in
a last vain effort to compete with the expensive
methods of syndicate and bonanza farms.

"No wonder the average worker is anxious to dis
cover some method of insurance, that will safe
guard him against the disasters which have over
whelmed so many of his predecessors ! No wonder
these workers come to believe it possible, that out

282 SOLARIS FARM.

of a given number of say one thousand men, who
start in life without capital, except such as they
possess in ordinary health and strength ; at least
fifty per cent are liable to die in the poor-house, or
in some way become helpless dependents on charity !
Against such an alarming proposition, the average
optimist or plutocrat, cries out, impossible ! No,
No ! In this Republic, such things could never hap
pen ! Besides, how preposterous ! Don't you know,
that the general prosperity of the country was never
greater than now ! Why the wealth of the nation is
growing at a marvelous rate ! Never before, were
fortunes made so easily ! The way is open for every
industrious man ; no matter how poor he may be at
the start. If people come to want in the midst of
such golden opportunities, they have only them
selves to blame.

"By way of an answer to these optimistic assert
ions, let us apply the figures collected by Prof. A.
G. Warner, published in his 'American Charities.'
In this book he has tabulated the results of fifteen
investigations, both in this country and abroad, into
the actual causes of poverty. These investigations
embrace over one hundred thousand individual cases,
found in the cities of Baltimore, New York, Boston,
Cincinnati, London, England, and seventy-six cities
in Germany. In the causes of poverty stated, eleven
per cent are due to intemperance, ten and three-
tenths per cent to other kinds of misconduct ; while
seventy-four and four-tenths per cent are due to mis
fortune, such as poorly-paid work, lack of work,
sickness, etc. Here, we have actual proof that
seventy-five thousand in the ranks of this vast army
of poverty-stricken people, were reduced to such
straits, by causes which they could not control.

SOLARIS FARM. 283

How dreadful the significance of these terrible fig
ures ! What a blot they become, on the fair page of
progress achieved by the nineteenth century ! What
a warning to the people of the twentieth ! What an
indictment against existing, social, and industrial
conditions ! What argument could be more convinc
ing, or demand more imperatively, the immediate
adoption of co-operative methods, which offer abso
lute insurance against the recurrence of such cal
amities ?

' 'As relating to the insurance question, and by the
way of a contrast between competitive and co-oper
ative methods, let us consider the following state
ment.

* 'We learn from statistics, that for the family of a
skilled workman, of the better class — a family of
five persons — the average annual cost of living is
$420. This includes food, shelter, raiment, fuel,
laundry, light, water, medical attendance, medicine,
education and recreation.

"Under the competitive system, to earn this sum
required, on the part of the adults and such of the
children as were able to work, the continuous toil of
three hundred days, twelve hours long — counting
the possible workers of the family as three, and the
labor day as twelve hours long — we have in the
aggregate, say eleven thousand weary hours of this
nerve depressing labor. A labor often performed in
the midst of the most repulsive and unsanitary
conditions ; to which the toilers were constantly
goaded by the cruel spur of necessity. This is a
picture of the living expenses and daily working life
of a family of the superior class, far above the
average among the workers under the competitive
system.

284 SOLARIS FARM.

"To illustrate what the co-operative system can
do, let us transfer the account of this family, to a co
operative agricultural colony like this. On the basis
of three hundred days of labor annually, we should
have daily for the two adults — the children being
in school — six hours of productive labor and two
hours of educative labor, an aggregate of four thous
and, eight hundred hours, of work for the year.
This work would be separated by such generous
periods of rest and recreation, and performed amidst
such pleasant surroundings, that the worker could
truthfully count them as so many hours spent in
necessary healthful exercise.

"As a result of this labor, we could place the
annual income of the family at $1,800. All available,
for providing the very best of food, shelter, clothing,
heat, light, laundry, hospital service, medical attend
ance, medicine, education and amusement. Also
superior social surroundings, with increased facilities
for being well born ; with educative advantages, em
bracing a higher order of intellectual amusements,
art-culture, musical training, and industrial skill.

"In addition, the family would enjoy a savings ac
count of generous proportions, represented by the
constantly increasing value of the farm, its stock,
crops, buildings, store and goods, material, ma
chinery, industrial plants, orchards, vineyards and
forests.

"Still better! They would have savings in the
sinking fund, providing land, and homes for their
children and grand-children in a long line of future
generations.

"Best of all ! This family would have savings in
the insurance fund, providing for an old age of ease
and comfort, free from care, sweetened and bright-

SOLARIS FARM. 285

ened by leisure, travel and the refinements of study,
art and music !

4 ' In striking a balance between these two accounts,
we discover a difference in favor of the co-operative
system, with its magical insurance, which is wider,
deeper and more startling than the difference between
the illustrations of Dante's Inferno, and the descrip
tions of Milton's paradise !

"A careful study of this insurance question, has
taught our people many valuable lessons. They
have learned to consider from a new standpoint, the
object and purpose of life, and the amount of work
necessary to support that life.

"They have learned that poverty is a needless
crime against progress, which can and must be
abolished !

"They have learned, that in these days of general
prosperity, marked by a wealth of labor-saving ma
chinery, never before dreamed possible, co-opera
tion has demonstrated, that an average of but six
hours each day, devoted to farm work, will abund
antly supply the means which will yield them, the
highest advantages of birth, education, amusement,
and everything necessary to a healthful enjoyment
of life.

"They have learned that the true purpose of
work, is not to make and hoard money ; but to se
cure these advantages for themselves and their
children.

"They have learned that money is not a necessity;
that it is only the means to an end. They have
learned that confidence in each other, among mem
bers of a co-operative colony, working unselfishly
together, largely takes the place of money.

" They have learned that practical education equips

286 SOLARIS FARM.

them with a knowledge, of how to deal justly with
each other, in all the social relations of life.

"They have learned that the pathway which leads
to success, in winning the largest measure of all
these advantages, is reached by adopting unselfish
methods, which will insure the welfare of all. They
have learned that this condition may be attained by
building up co-operative systems that furnish re-
numerative self employment, and at the same time
enables them to enjoy free access to the natural
sources of life.

' ' They have learned that this free access cannot
be secured, without first obtaining permanent con
trol of the necessary tracts of land, not less than ten
acres per capita. They have learned that these
tracts should contain at least five thousand acres, in
order to properly support an industrial co-operative
colony of one thousand people.

"They have learned that the social, ethical and
intellectual advantages offered to the individual, by
this co operative colony life, are even greater than
those relating to the question of finance.

' ' They have learned, that when selfish distrust of
each other is once banished from the minds of the
workers by the force of repeated examples of co
operative success ; then, it will be practical and
easy to organize the farms and farm laborers of this
Republic, with its army of the poor and the unem
ployed of every class, into systems of co-operative
.farm villages, or similar industrial associations.

"In this knowledge our people rejoice ! They are
filled with an unselfish desire to spread the good
news broadcast ! Can you, my dear Fern ! imagine
for them, a purpose in life more noble or more
worthy ? "

SOLARIS FARM. 287

"No, my dear Fillmore ! I cannot ! So eloquent
ly have you stated the case, that the outlook for the
future is glorious ! How graphically you have pic
tured the growing importance of this question of in
surance ! I am amazed, and more deeply interested
than ever ! I never before dreamed it possible, that
the co-operative farm could offer so much defense
against the calamities of life, which grow out of the
pinching pressure of poverty !

"The scheme for providing for the members of
the Mother's Club, and for retiring co-operators at
the age of fifty, meets my enthusiastic approval !
I am sure it will commend itself to the workers and
thinkers of the world ' To me, it seems admirable,
from every point of view ! "

CHAPTER XXXV.
THE MOTHER'S CLUB.

* ' MARK it well, Fillmore ! I have now reached a
very important question. What have you to tell me
about stirpiculture, as a part of the co-operative
farm movement ? "

"As a basis for the preliminary work, we have
been following carefully, the suggestions of your
father, Fennimore Fenwick. You will remember, my
dear Fern, that they were to the effect, that the
children of the farm, should be the crowning glory
of all its products ; that it should be the province of
the corporation to provide for the children of the co-
operators, every advantage of favorable pre-natal
conditions, birth, unfoldment and education, that

288 SOLARIS FARM.

money could procure for the wealthy. Therefore,
that ideal environments for mothers and mother
hood, must be created and maintained.

"In order to carry out these epoch-making ideas,
such of our matrons as are willing to assume the con
ditions, responsibilities, and cares of motherhood,
are relieved from all farm work, at any time they
may chose. However, much of the work is so enjoy
able, and affords so much pleasant exercise, that
many of them become volunteers. Meanwhile, they
are paid regular wages from our insurance fund.
With this abundant leisure and freedom from care,
they are prepared to become zealous workers in the
Mother's Club.

"Our Mother's Club at Solaris, was organized by
Gertrude Gerrish, as the fulfillment of a long cher
ished dream. She has reason to be proud of her
work ! Like that other Gertrude, made so famous
by Pestalozzi's charming story, Gertrude Gerrish is a
born teacher, an ideal mother, one of nature's noble
women. Much of the success attained by the club,
is due to her wonderful power as a leader. Her en
thusiasm is infectious. It has carried all obstacles
before it To this self appointed task, she has given
her best energies, a rich harvest of ripe experience,
with its fruitage of earnest thought, radiant and
glowing with the genial influence of her sunny tem
perament, and withal, rendered more potent, by an
overflowing love from the deep fountain of her great
mother heart. Is it a matter of wonder, that she is
such a general favorite with club members ! Her
word they accept as law. Her suggestions as com
mands.

''To Gertrude Gerrish, motherhood was a holy
and sacred office, which demanded from its devotees,

SOLARIS FARM. 289

a season of careful preparation, and a thorough
knowledge of the physiological and psychological
laws, which govern that life-evolving function, that
crowning glory of womanhood. She seemed to be
inspired with the idea, that progress has ordained,
that unwilling, ignorant and accidental mothers,
must be replaced by those who are predetermined,
properly educated and fully prepared. These ideas,
she has endeavored to impress most forcibly, upon
the minds of all club members. She has also taught
them the importance of maintaining joyous, health
ful, mental conditions ; consequently, of carefully
avoiding all emotions of selfishness, cruelty, anger,
envy, or melancholy. In this connection, for the
purpose of creating in the minds of our club mothers,
as many good and pleasurable emotions as possible,
and of repeating these anabolic emotions so often,
that they may become dominant during the entire
gestative period ; Gertrude Gerrish has wisely plan
ned for them, a great deal of open air exercise, study
and amusement.

' ' The study of botany, and botanizing parties, have
become very popular. These prospective mothers,
have quickly learned how to amuse themselves, by
combining study with pleasure. When organized
into congenial outing parties, almost every fine day
they may be found, seated in the luxuriously ap
pointed motor carriages which belong to the club,
ready for a lively spin away to the woods. This
gives them an opportunity to enjoy the pure air and
bright sunshine, the wide, undulating landscape,
tinted by the exquisite coloring of every flowering
plant, shrub and tree. How delightful to them, is
the restful green of dewy meadows ; the sweet music
of birds, the charming chatter and playful antics, of
10

290 SOLARIS FARM.

the swift-footed squirrels ! How grateful, the leafy
coolness and bracing ozone of the forest ; the dancing
shadows of its deep glens, with their garnered
treasures of mosses and ferns ! How inspiring, the
merry tinkle of the clear streamlet, swiftly flowing
over its rocky bed ; or the louder roar of the rushing
waterfall, where drooping boughs glisten and sparkle
with spray-laden foliage ! All these, are nature's
matchless charms, which appeal to our young mothers
in their best moments, their most responsive moods ;
banishing all thoughts of evil, awakening in their
hearts, new spiritual impulses, feelings of worshipful
adoration ; emotions of the highest and purest order.
Than this, nothing could prove more helpful in
maintaining perfect conditions of mental and spirit
ual serenity.

"Inhaling the pure, invigorating air of the country,
far from the dust and filth, the smoke and poisonous
gases, the turmoil and strife, the ceaseless din, the
selfishness and sin of the great city, close to the
fostering bosom of mother earth, under a broad
dome of blue sky, bathed in floods of golden sun
light, exulting in the exuberance of perfect health,
these grateful young mothers, realize how much they
owe to the co-operative farm movement, for sur
rounding them with such ideal conditions of life.

* ' They realize, the great, good fortune of children,
who are born and reared in the midst of such de
lightful environments. They perceive, with a keen
sense of sorrow, that children who are born and
bred away from these rural conditions, are robbed
of more than one-half their natural rights. They
realize, more than ever before, the filth, the misery,
the squalor, the fetid air, and the unsanitary con
ditions, of our great cities. They shudder, when

SOLARIS FARM. 291

they contemplate, the bitterness of the misfortune,
the cruelty of the deprivation, of the great mass of
children, who must be born and bred in the midst of
such depressing, unhealthy surroundings. They
know intuitively, that only a puny, sickly, half-
developed race of people, can come from such a sad
birth. Under such circumstances, they do not won
der, that fully one-third of the human family, die in
infancy.

"Indoors, the handsomely furnished, beautifully
decorated club rooms, which are located in the kin
dergarten building, offer the maximum of elegance
and comfort to club members. There, in harmonious
groups, they may engage in conversation, study, writ
ing, musical exercises, and other varieties of club
work. The esthetic tastes of the members are
quickened, and their pleasures much enhanced, by
the fine display of oil paintings, water colors, pencil
sketches, etchings, and photographs, which have
been hung on the walls, by admiring friends from
the art and photography clubs. It has been the
chosen work of the last named club, to supply the
center tables in the reading rooms, with a series of
large portfolios, containing a choice collection of
finely finished, beautifully mounted photographs.
This collection is varied, unique and valuable ; and
withal, exceedingly interesting. It embraces artis
tic copies of the world's finest statuary, pictures of
eminent men, noted, historic buildings, rare land
scapes and most picturesque scenery. These, sup
plemented by an abundant supply of choice books,
furnish excellent conditions, and a most fascinating
incentive, for a harmonious, satisfying, self -culture,
of the highest type. Under the able leadership of
Gertrude Gerrish, the interest shown, the enthusi-

292 SOLARIS FARM.

asm awakened, and the progress achieved, is some
thing remarkable.

"Thus prepared, the members find themselves on
a higher mental and spiritual plane of existence,
where they can appreciate the possibilities, of what
may be accomplished by true motherhood, as a re
generator of society. They can understand the sig
nificance of the great lesson taught by history, which
is, that all progress for the race, depends upon the
elevation, education and refinement, achieved by
woman. With quickened vision, they can perceive,
that with the dawn of the twentieth century, comes
the beginning of a new cycle in the life of the planet ;
the commencement of woman's golden era ! In the
higher light of such a vision, they become aware,
that they must strive continually, for more wisdom,
that they may reach a higher consciousness of indi
vidual responsibility, as keepers and guardians of
the sacred temple of human life.

"In the preparatory work for a progressive pa
rentage, club members are taught, that prospective
fathers and mothers, must become familiar with the
sciences, the industrial, and the higher arts, if they
wish their children to inherit, whatever intellectual
progress, they as parents, may achieve. The new
psychology, with a better knowledge of nature's
evolutionary methods, declares, that these trained
intellectual attributes, may be transmitted to off
spring, if the parents are willing to prepare them
selves, to respond to the demands of natural law.

"In the domain of more practical club work, the
members are taught how to prepare the diet and
clothing, which may be necessary for the proper
care of healthy nursing mothers and infants. They
are also taught the hygiene and physiology of mother-

SOLARIS FARM.

hood ; in addition, as much as possible, about the
laws that govern the procreative body of woman,
when it becomes the temple of evolving life. In
connection therewith, they are instructed to observe
closely, the initial and pre-natal conditions, which
dominate this primal stage of embryo life.

"As a result of this comprehensive course of train
ing, our young mothers soon find themselves, in
spired by a hypnotic wave of enthusiasm, wh'ch is
sure to follow many days of pleasant association,
discussion, and systematic study. Stimulated by
this enthusiasm, and aided by the potency of co
operative thinking, they endeavor to discover new
avenues, through which they may reach and main
tain, better physical, mental and spiritual conditions,
which shall bring them into a more perfect harmony,
with the laws of unf oldment which govern planetary
evolution. The success, which has rewarded their
efforts in this direction, has far exceeded, even the
ambitious hopes of Gertrude Gerrish.

"For the purpose of preserving a series of valu
able records, for the benefit of this and coming gen
erations ; club members are urged to put in writing,
such ideas as may come to them, as the result of in
dividual thought, or from co-operative study, dis
cussion and observation. These papers are care
fully condensed, sifted, classified, and placed in
proper record form, by the editing committee of the
club. This committee, is also instructed to prepare
short extracts, essays and descriptive articles relat
ing to club work, for publication in the mothers'
column of the Solaris Sentinel.

"This outline sketch, my dear Fern, will give you
some idea of the scope of the work, in which, I know
you are greatly interested. In brief, it means -a

294 SOLARIS FARM.

practical illustration, of the use of scientific methods,
for improving the race. The club hopes to give a
satisfactory answer to the great question, of how to
be well born. It will strive to convince the world,
that the time has arrived, in which the twentieth
century demands the immediate introducton of a
scientific system, for the thorough breeding of child
ren as a fine art. The art of all arts ! The highest
of all possible achievements !

"Hitherto, the world's people, in trying to accum
ulate riches, or to escape the poorhouse, have had
neither time nor inclination^ to consider this most
important of all questions. As a matter of fact,
greed for gold has become so dominant, human life,
so cheap, and its progress through culture, held in
such low estimation ; that it is not unusual, not even
a matter of comment, to hear of a wealthy stock
breeder, who willingly pays from ten to twenty
thousand dollars a year to the trainer of his horses ;
while he grudgingly pays five hundred dollars a year
to the teacher of his children. This would indicate,
that the demand for a change is imperative. The
great wave of evolutionary progress, is fast rising
to a flood tide ! The selfish, commercial spirit, born
of the competitive system, must soon give way for
something better ! The advent of a system of un
selfish, co-operative farming, which proposes to unite
a rational agriculture, with a scientific stirpiculture,
offers opportunities for substantial progress, and a
new hope for the coming race."

' ' This is exceedingly interesting, Fillmore ! What
additional work, has Gertrude Gerrish planned for
the club members ? "

' 'A great deal more than I have time to enumerate,
just now ! However, by the way of an illustration

SOLARIS FARM. 295

of her ingenius methods, and also, of the great
variety of the topics introduced, all of which really
belong to the work, as an integral part of the move
ment. I may mention the latest scheme introduced
by Gertrude Gerrish, which proposes to increase the
average length of human life, by giving to children
as a birthright, well developed vital, physical, and
mental organizations. This, she claims, is the only
true ground work, for real progress in the right
direction. The scheme has proved a popular one.
It has so aroused the zeal and enthusiasm of the club
members, that they write, think and talk on the sub
ject, with an inspiration and eloquence quite sur
prising. As a result of the remarkable interest
awakened, they have diligently read books on evolu
tion, physiology, psychology, vital statistics, physi
cal culture, and a great number, on the general sub
ject of health. In this respect, the work of the club
as a promoter of longevity, may well serve as an ob
ject lesson, for the hundred-year clubs, that have
been organized during the past ten years, for the
purpose of checking the alarming increase of suicide
clubs.

"Touching the question of suicide, as an enemy to
longevity: In discussing the subject, many members
of the club maintain, that it is an imperative duty for
them to give the world a new cure for suicide. They
would offer its would-be victims, such a tempting
array of the meanings, purposes and opportunities,
for gaining wisdom, which may crown every rightly
conducted, harmoniously environed life ; making it
so busy, so absorbing, and so happy ; that there
would be no room, for the morbid hallucination of a
suicidal desire. This proposition is based on the
presumption, that all suicides are possessed with an

296 SOLARIS FARM.

insanely erroneous idea, regarding the true object
and purpose of human life. After the passing of a
few generations, under the wide- spread reign of co
operative stirpiculture, with its hosts of mothers'
clubs, suicide will soon become an utter impossibility.

"In the ever broadening scope, of progressive kind
ergarten training, our young mothers have wrought
their most important work. A work, which reflects
on the club, a great deal of well-earned credit. As
centers of the first and second-year nursery groups,
in their cargosita excursions around the great hall,
for the purpose of sight, color and image training ;
the service rendered by these mothers, has proved
invaluable. As teachers, assistants, directors and
leaders, in the third and fourth-year groups, while
engaged in exercises and games, which have been
devised and instituted, for the purpose of sense
training, science training, and science recreation ; in
addition to the ordinary kindergarten course ; their
excellent work, has justly excited the pride of the
colony.

"In conclusion, my dear Fern ! I must tell you
something about 'The club babies, ' as they are proud
ly designated by the members. They are very
bright and beautiful ! In fact, they seem born with
a consciousness, that it is their peculiar privilege,
to commence the study of life as a fine art, at its
very threshold. They are the zealously guarded
treasures of the club, and the pride of the farm !
They give a glorious promise, that they will prove
worthy leaders, of a coming host of dominant think
ers, which are to be given to the world, by the
mothers' clubs of the next quarter of a century.

"As champions and exponents of the true object
and purpose of human life, these thinkers will be

SOLARIS FARM. 297

armed with a wonderful potency, with which to
overcome and conquer, the selfish reign of the com
petitive system. A cruel system, which has proved
the very incarnation, of 'Man's inhumanity to man,'
causing countless millions to mourn ! In this great
work, they will be inspired, by the high purpose of
replacing its evi], poverty-breeding dominancy, by
an unselfish, co-operative system, a union of spirit
ualizing, educative, stirpiculture and agriculture,
which shall insure a higher civilization, and the per
petual reign of peace and plenty for all mankind."

"What you have told to me so charmingly, Fill-
more, is almost too good to be true ! How eloquent
ly, and how interestingly, you have described, the
scope and work of this wonderful club, with its
gifted leader ! I hail the advent of this club, as one
of the most important results, achieved by the Sol
aris Farm Company ! I am delighted, with its thor
ough organization, broad plans, high aims, earnest
work, and the remarkable enthusiasm, of its mem
bers ! They represent a cause, which is dear to my
heart !

"The question, of how to be well born, is to my
mind, the foremost question of the day ! A ques
tion, which demands universal consideration ! This
twentieth century union, of agriculture and stirpi
culture, this scientific, systematic, generation of the
race as a fine art ; which has been so well demon
strated, by the surprising work of these enthusiastic
young mothers, is something to be proud of ! The
good, which must follow the work of this club, can
not now be estimated. The one hope, -for the re
generation and final salvation of society, is cen
tered in the mothers of the Republic ! Nothing, is
so well calculated to impress the importance of this

298 SOLARIS FARM.

grand truth, on the minds of the people, as the
practical work of an ever increasing host of mothers'
clubs.

1 1 In their devotion to the Republic, these mothers
are patriots of the purest type ! They have arisen
to such spiritual heights, that they may fearlessly
proclaim the law of motherhood, for the sons and
daughters of the new Republic ! They have demon
strated that this law declares, that a worthy mother
of the new Republic, must be absolutely free ! She
must be free, religiously, mentally, socially, physic
ally, and financially ! Thus unshackeled, she may
be properly prepared, to bear a race of children who
are endowed by birth, with the incarnate spirit and
genius of true liberty. Such liberty, as shall be
come the talisman and watchword, of the model Re
public of the twentieth century. A Republic of peers,
of intellectual giants ! The very flower of spiritual
unf oldment ! The highest order of civilization ! Un
der the starry flag of such a government, neither
slave, nor pauper, nor criminal, shall be found to
cloud with shame, the fair escutcheon of true liberty !

"I shall endeavor, before leaving Solaris, to meet
with the members, by attending some session of the
club. I shall then take pleasure in restating these
ideas, as an expression of my appreciation of the
great work for humanity, which they have so suc
cessfully inaugurated. '

"To Gertrude Gerrish, that noble woman, with
such a magnificent talent, and so loyal a heart ; who
has won my deepest gratitude, my undying respect ;
I must pay the tribute of my admiration, by taking
her lovingly to my heart, as a sister woman, whose
wonderful ability, as a thinker, organizer, and leader,
has made me proud of my sex."

SOLARIS FARM. 299

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM AS A FACTOR IN THE
CAPITAL AND LABOR PROBLEM.

' ' I AM curious to know, to what extent co-operative
farming will effect the capital and labor problem.
What think you, Fillmore ? "

"No doubt the effect will be very marked. Many
of the solutions arrived at in experimenting with the
insurance question, will apply with equal force to
wards a final solution of the capital and labor prob
lem. The toiler once having been taught the art of
self-employment, that will furnish him superior con
ditions for a perfected healthful enjoyment of life,
with all of the advantages for himself and his child
ren that money can buy for the wealthy; can never
again become the working slave of capital. He has
learned, by a practical lesson, very similar to the
famous 'Gurnsey Market House' exploit, that labor
unaided by capital, can produce an abundance of
things which go to make up the wealth of the
nation, the community or the individual ; while capi
tal unaided by labor can produce nothing.

"In searching for a remote cause for this ever
growing warfare between capital and labor, which
has so long vexed our Republic ; and which, even
now, threatens its final disintegration ; we soon dis
cover our arch enemy, the competitive system, as
the party responsible for the mischief. This fact
becomes more apparent, as we consider, that from
the beginning of the historical period, people in a
fierce struggle for existence, have been compelled by
the competitive system, to wage a brutal, relentless

300 SOLARIS FARM.

warfare with each other. Always the stronger,
against the weaker. In this wicked war, millions of
human lives have been sacrificed to the fiery moloch
of selfish greed.

"The older the civilization the more fiercely has
the war been waged ; until to-day, thousands among
the lower classes everywhere, dwarfed and em
bittered by a hopeless struggle to sustain life, in a
ceaseless combat with competing foes on every hand ;
spurred to a frenzy of fury, curse the day which
gave them birth. Why should they live only to
suffer ? With moral natures starved and withered,
they declare that all justice is a mockery, all honesty,
a myth ! They have lost faith in God, and confidence
in man ! They care not for the needs of posterity,
or for the nemesis 01 a future existence ! In this
desperate condition, they either commit suicide, or
become an easy prey to the temptation, to join the
outlaws in taking the world by the throat. From
such material is formed the dregs of society, that
lower social strata of living dynamite, that constant
menace, which threatens in the near future, to de
stroy all civilization which rests upon it. This is a
typical piece of the handiwork of the competitive
system, a system in which the roots of society to
day are grounded.

"Once seriously considered in this light, how can
any sane person, who believes in an All-Wise Creator,
in justice and mercy, in a common brotherhood for
humanity, ever again defend the wickedness, of a
society based on the selfish cruelty of such a system?
What treatment may unorganized, unprotected labor,
expect from this system?

"Hitherto, fortunately for the progress of the
world, the laborers of this Republic, have enjoyed

SOLARIS FARM. 301

more, of the advantages of life, than those of any
other country. With better wages and shorter hours
for work, they have been able to educate themselves
and their children, to a degree that would fit them
to become good citizens of the Republic. A republic
which for its continued existence, depends on the
integrity, ability and intelligence of its working
units. As such, our laborers have proved themselves
the best in the world. Now, alas ! The whole in
dustrial situation is changed by the swift dominancy
of the competitive system, with its ever increasing
brood of trusts, which have swallowed up all natural
opportunities, and monopolized all the leading busi
ness enterprises, of this hitherto progressive nation.

"The people of the Republic are divided into two
classes ; the employers, and the employed. The in
vention and introduction of new and expensive ma
chinery each year, augments the power of the trusts,
to control the markets and the industrial situation.
By the same means and at the same time, they are
fast reducing the number of employers, and increas
ing the number of those who must seek employment.
Under such circumstances, each year the fate of the
worker in any class, either skilled or unskilled,
grows more desperate. He becomes more complete
ly the slave of the trusts or capitalists who own the
tools and who monopolize the industries. The larger
the dependent family of the worker, the more abject
the slavery, and the less his power to resist a con
stant reduction of wages.

' ' In the efforts made by organized labor unions, to
resist this tendency to reduce wages, we have both
the cause and the beginning of the war between
capital and labor With a courage and patriotism
worthy of the days of 'Seventy -Six,' this war has

302 SOLARIS FARM.

been waged by the toilers, with a determination to
maintain rights guaranteed to them by the constitu
tion of the Republic. A right to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. A right to labor and to
enjoy the fruits of their labor, by having free access
to a reasonable share of the natural advantages be
longing to the public domain.

"In this heroic struggle, so sturdily maintained
during the past twenty-five years against the com
petitive system and its well trained hosts ; the cam
paign, which has been marked by many mistakes,
followed by frequent defeat and disastrous failure,
has always proved successful as an educator, both
for the toilers and the great middle classes, who
sympathized with them. On the other hand, alarmed
by sudden success, achieved by the disruption of
long-lived business methods, and the loss of con
fidence in exchange values, on the part of the public
in consequence of this disruption ; the generals of the
competitive system, aided with but few exceptions,
by the press, university and pulpit, have shrewdly
endeavored to evade responsibility, for the disas
trous panics which have followed such revolutionary
methods. These panics have left the country dis
turbed and embarrassed, by armies of unemployed
men.

"In the same line of tactics, these competitive
leaders, have endeavored to confuse the question,
and to mystify the people, by raising the cry of over
production ! The inexorable law of supply and de
mand ! The impossibility of our manufacturers
longer competing in the markets of the world, against
the cheap products of the pauper labor of Europe,
while they are obliged by the unions, to pay such
exorbitant wages here. This cry has grown more

SOLARIS FARM. 303

insistent, with each succeeding year. Nevertheless,
the fact still remains, that but for the continuous
1 opposition of the united labor organizations, long
before this time, the wages paid in Europe, would
govern the price of labor in this Republic. What
then would have happened to our workers, the basic
units of our government ? Fortunately, the cam
paign of education still continues ! The people at
large are just beginning to wake up to the import
ance of the labor question ! They have studied it
carefully and earnestly. They have learned that in
productive labor, muscular effort is a mental de
monstration.

t 'They have learned, that the products of the
skillfully educated, intelligent, refined, moral, self-
respecting worker of this Republic, can successfully,
compete with the inferior products, of a less intelli
gent or pauperized labor of any country, in any of
the markets of the world. No matter how high the
wages of the former, or how low the wages of the
latter may be.

"They have learned, that the demand, in any
market for a superior article, will always drive out
the inferior.

"They have learned, that the question of the un
employed, is a question of the utmost importance,
which demands the immediate attention of all patri
ots. They have learned, that the unemployed we
shall have with us in ever increasing numbers, so
long as the competitive system shall last.

"They have learned, that not one from the ranks
of the unemployed, can again become a worker,
without paying a handsome bonus for the privilege,
by allowing some one to pocket the lion's share of
the profits he may be able to earn.

304 SOLARIS FARM.

"They have learned, that when society encourages
conditions, which cause the laborer to look upon any
calamity as a blessing in disguise, because it offers
work for the unemployed ; that society, must be re
organized.

' ' They have learned, that whenever an industrial
system produces conditions, which make the laborer
see only disaster for his individual interests, in
every labor-saving invention which may be intro
duced ; such a system, must be superseded by a
better one.

' ' They have learned, that the competitive system,
by the very nature and terms of its organization,
obliges its followers to be selfish, cruel, heartless,
unmanly and unpatriotic. They have learned, that
its reign has become so dominant, that it justifies a
recent writer of most excellent wit, who declares
that ' Man by birth, education and training, has be
come so essentially selfish, that no preaching has
any effect upon him, if it does not advise him to lay
up treasures for himself somewhere. '

. ' ' They have learned, that the dangers which most
seriously threaten the perpetuity of our Republic,
do not come from the clamor of dissatisfied laborers,
who are wrongfully accused of law-breaking ; but,
that these dangers do come, from the lawlessness of
capital, and the anarchy of corporations.

' ' They have learned that so f ar as the interests of
the working units of the Republic are concerned, or
care for its continued existence as a representative
government ; the press, the university, and the pul
pit, have all been syndicated and censored by the
competitive system to such an extent, that they can
no longer be trusted to furnish teachers, leaders,
and guides.

SOLARIS FARM. 305

"They have learned, that the only safe course is,
for the people to depend upon themselves, to de
velop and establish a new social and industrial order,
from which shall spring a class of incorruptible
leaders and statesmen, whose pure, unselfish motives,
dominant, evenly developed minds, and superior abil
ity, shall mark them as fitting rulers for a more per
fect Republic. Such a Republic as shall meet the
demands of a twentieth century progress.

"They have learned, that the remedy indicated is
a change to an industrial system, that will secure to
the laborer an equitable share of the benefits, which
follow the introduction of labor-saving machinery.
Under such conditions, the laborer himself, having
more leisure and unexpended vitality, will be stimu
lated to increase his available resources by cultivat
ing his brain capacity for invention, thereby largely
increasing his power to produce.

"After many years, the rank and file of the work
ers in the labor unions, have learned, that self-em
ployment is the key to the situation. Although
late, they have learned, that if all the money wasted
in unsuccessful strikes, had been invested in the
purchase of choice locations, undeveloped mines and
mineral lands, and in the erection of manufacturing
plants, the labor question would now be a thing of
the past. They would be masters of the situation,
to whom the capitalists would be glad to offer such
a liberal system of profit-sharing, as would practi
cally make the workmen self-employed, by reason
of a part ownership in the enterprise they labored
to exploit.

"Finally, and most important of all ; they have
learned that all manufacturing industries, naturally
grow out of agriculture. That the success of one, is

306 SOLARIS FARM.

the measure, for the success of the other. That
they must co-operate to such an extent, that a con
stant, healthy growth of both, may be maintained.

"They have become convinced of the imperative
necessity for this equable, co-operative, progress,
by a careful study of the threatening conditions
which obtain, in countries where agriculture has
declined ; and where manufacturing industries have
become abnormally predominant. In such countries,
the food supply at once becomes a question of daily,
nay of hourly importance. It must be imported
from distant lands, subject to the tax of insurance,
import and export duties, freight charges, and com
missions. Under such adverse conditions, available
supplies for but a few days only, stand between the
toiler and gaunt hunger. Any catastrophe which
may happen to already congested lines of transpor
tation, will percipitate a famine. Then prices would
go up with a bound. The constant menace of such
a possibility, always serves to keep food-prices above
the natural level of a fair profit. On the other
hand, in countries where progress in agriculture
and manufacture goes hand in hand ; a constantly
increasing home market for manufactured products
is steadily maintained. A most important consider
ation ! At the same time, the industrial centers
have the advantage of the immediate vicinity of
abundant food supplies, which are not subject to the
vicissitudes of traffic or transportation, or to the tax
of much handling.

"In considering these things, the minds of a great
majority of the laboring people, have been prepared
to accept tthe conclusion, that the great question of
the hour is, how to open the way for every worthy
worker to become his own employer. The co-oper-

SOLARIS FARM. 307

ative farm opens the way. Therefore, it is to these
self-educated toilers in the ranks of the labor organ
izations, that the manifest advantages of co-oper
ative farming will appeal most successfully. If
properly approached, a majority of them would be,
not only willing but anxious for an opportunity to
give this new system of co-operative agriculture a
thorough trial.

' ' Having once become practically interested, these
people would soon learn to consider the object and
purpose of life from a new standpoint. From this
new concept of the meaning and necessities of life,
they would perceive that it did not require the
hoarding of much wealth, in order to satisfy them.
The insurance system in providing for the wants of
old age, would forever banish the haunting specter
of a pauper's death in the poor-house. They would
then realize that money, was not so precious as a
human life ! They would clearly understand that
money was an absolute necessity, only to those
under the competitive system who had lost confi
dence in each other, and faith in the fact of a com
mon brotherhood for humanity !

"They would soon respond to happier surround
ings, in every way so conducive to a natural, soul
growth, and to the harmonious unfoldment of the in
dividual from within. In this unfoldment, a new
meaning for immortality would come to them. Spir
itual law would become operative. It would teach
them that, as immortal beings, as cosmic units of
the larger cosmos — The Great Over Soul — they could
not become totally depraved, even under pressure of
evil conditions of the most degrading character ; no
matter how much their spiritual natures had been
stained or starved.

308 SOLARIS FARM.

"With this new standard as a guide, there would
come an inspiration to strive for the attainment of a
higher, purer, better life. A life more in harmony
with the design of an All-Wise Creator ! Angry,
antagonistic feelings, against hitherto competitors,
would disappear. The world would wear a smile in
stead of a frown ! Brotherly love between man and
man, would become the rule in place of the excep
tion ! Gold would lose its charm ! Avarice would
pass away ! Selfish instincts, born of bitter years
under a cruel system would soon follow ! Long dor
mant, spiritual natures would be awakened ! A new
spiritual growth would take place ! A vastly wider,
mental, and spiritual horizon, would be added to the
wisdom of the individual ! In the light of this wis
dom would come the discovery, that the virtue of
right living, bears the seeds of a perpetuity, which
begets true and lasting happiness ! An overwhel
ming answer in the affirmative, from every point of
view, to the question, does it pay to be unselfish ?

"With higher ideals of life and its duties, these
physically, mentally, and spiritually emancipated
toilers, would find themselves prepared to co-operate
most effectually, in establishing and maintaining any
social and industrial evolution, which the best inter
ests of the people and the Republic might demand.

"From this presentation, my dear Fern ! you may
imagine how important and desirable it is, that
these two powerful industrial forces should become
harmoniously united in working for the interests of
a natural progressive evolution. Against such an
invincible combination, the hosts of the competitive
system might not hope to prevail ! , Once thus
united, each co-operative farm would then become
the nucleus of a new industrial organization, capable

SOLARIS FARM. 309

of such unlimited expansion and perfection as the
needs of surrounding communities might be able to
sustain.

' 'As this twin series of giant industries continued
to grow and expand, the ways by which they might
co-operate with mutual benefit, would continue to
multiply. In political matters such a combination
would prove remarkably strong ; first in the town
ship and county ; later, in state and national legis
latures, where it would soon be able to demand and
push forward favorable legislation, and also to
strangle much that might threaten to prove adverse.
In such efforts, would come opportunities for intro
ducing to the arena of public life, an abler, nobler,
purer class of young men ; who, born of a better
social, industrial system, by reason of superior con
ditions for birth and training, would be properly en
dowed with that inspiring patriotism, sterling in
tegrity, and commanding ability, so necessary to
maintain the dominancy and perpetuity of the Re
public, as a government of the people, for the peo
ple and by the people."

"Bravo ! Well done Fillmore ! Your statement
of the subject is grand, indeed ! The eloquent sum
ming up, forms a fitting climax in answer to my last
question, the closing one of the series. But, as
much as I admire and appreciate its general excel
lence, you must allow me to suggest one criticism.
Do you not think Fillmore, that you put the case
rather too strongly, when you place the press, the
university and the pulpit, so completely under the
control of trusts, or the leaders of the competitive
system ? Would they dare to do such a thing ? "

" Bless you my dear girl ! They are capable of
doing anything ! So far as the trusts and the corn-

310 SOLARIS FARM.

petitive system are concerned, I have stated the
case very mildly. Not one-half of the story has
been told. Let us probe this question a little deeper.

"What is a trust ? It is the highest form of mon-
oply. It is a nest of corporations, laid and hatched
by the competitive system ! It has neither consci
ence to hold it in check, nor soul to be damned ! It
dares to do anything ! Indeed ! It is formed for the
sole purpose of making money. Nothing is allowed
to stand in the way. Born of the consolidating
pressure, which marks the competitive system, it
seeks to monopolize all of the advantages of that
cruel system, without incurring its penalties. Once
thoroughly organized, and armed with the almost
unlimited power of its enormous capital ; the trust
immediately commences the wholesale destruction
of all opposing industries or interests. In pushing
this work, it regards neither the equities of com
mercial law, nor the vested rights of others. Se
curely protected by its monopoly, this modern jug
gernaut in the commercial world, rolls remorsely
onward toward its goal of wealth. It cares not for
the safety of worshippers, friends or foes. If by
chance they represent competing interests, they
must either leave the field or be crushed. There is
no alternative ! There is no escape !

"A few of the leading trusts, those most com
pletely representing the competitive system, have
recently become so defiant, so audaciously bold, that
they are prepared to undertake, to consolidate the
business of the whole earth. They will stick at
nothing ! They have the gorge to swallow one
government or ten ! It matters little to them ! Like
the ring of conspirators, in Donnelley's 'Ceaser's
Column, ' a few of the leading spirits, of these dar-

SOLARIS FARM. 311

ing trusts, are secretly plotting in Gotham ! Just
at present, they have their eyes fixed on the all-
powerful money question. The vision seems a pleas
ing one !

"What is that question, which so completely ab
sorbs the attention of these people ? Can it be pos
sible, that the mills of the competitive system will
grind up rich bankers, as unconcernedly as they do
the helpless poor ! They surely will ! The plot
grows and thickens ! Let us give it close attention.
Let us watch these people. Keeping in mind mean
while, that hitherto, the bankers of the country, have
complacently considered themselves masters and
kings of the financial situation, whose thrones were
secure for al] time. Strongly intrenched behind
well-filled money bags, they have felt themselves
safe in helping the trusts to fleece the public. Now
they are becoming alarmed. They are shaking an
their fifteen-dollar boots ! They behold that dread
ful handwriting on the wall ! In giant letters, seem
ingly towering forty feet tall, these bankers read
the doom, which the trust conspirators are now pre
paring for them. They catch the frightful signifi
cance of the question, which the trust leaders are
discussing. It is this. Why should the business of
the United States, support such an army of banks ?
More than ten thousand. We know very well, that
the entire money transactions of this country, could
be handled more safely, more swiftly, and more
cheaply, by one grand central institution. With one
voice the conspirators exclaim ! Let us form a pool !
Let us consolidate the whole business, into one mag
nificent money trust ! Let us select, say twenty-five,
of the brainiest bankers in the business .' , Let us
give them fat salaries, and make them superintend-

312 SOLARIS FARM.

ents of the financial agencies, now called banks.
Counting the whole number of banks, both public
and private, as ten thousand, with three professional
bankers to each one, the result would be a total of
thirty thousand bankers. Of this number, we could
reduce twenty-nine thousand, nine hundred and sev
enty-five, to the station of bank clerks. Let us
pause for a moment to contemplate the result ! What
enormous savings would accrue, by the introduction
of such a wholesale scheme of consolidation ! These
savings would be ours ! Intoxicated with the bril
liancy and the hugeness of the idea ; the conspira
tors with one impulse, spring to their feet, with out
stretched hands they form a ring, they execute a
round dance extraordinary. While thus engaged,
they gaily shout, 'There is millions in it for us ! '

' ' No wonder the bankers are alarmed ! With the
exercise of one-half of their usual cunning and fore
sight, they should have scented the danger sooner.
No doubt, they were so engrossed by the fascinating
game of money grabbing, that they were wholly
blind to danger, as the result of the combined audac
ity and perfidy of their former partners. They
have evidently failed to learn one plain lesson,
which is taught by the logic of events. It is this.
When once fairly started, the process of the larger
corporation, swallowing the lesser, goes forward
with such an ever- increasing rate of speed, that it
soon overtakes and gobbles up banks and bankers.

'•At this point, it is pertinent to propound the fol
lowing questions : If this is a Republic ? If the
people are the government, and the government is
the people ? And if the consolidating business, is
so good and so profitable for the trusts ? Why,
should not the government, own and run this giant

SOLARIS FARM. 313

central bank ? Why, should it not own and operate
the railroads, the canals, the shipping, the mines,
the forests, and all other industries ? This would
give the people a chance to share equally, in the en
joyment of these enormous profits. Why not ?

"What say you my dear Pern ! Would it not be
infinitely better, than to allow the government to be
swallowed by one monster trust ? "

"Better Fillmore ! Far better ! I am convinced !
I withdraw my criticism. You have maintained your
point so vigorously, that I have not the courage, to
offer one single word in reply. I am ready and will
ing, to consider the discussion as finally closed."

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE CO-OPERATIVE FARM TRIUMPHANT.

THE BEGINNING of the second decaae of the twenti
eth century, saw the final triumph of the co-oper
ative farm at Solaris. The five years of trial and
probation, have swiftly passed into history. The
labors of the colony, have been crowned with a rich
harvest of success. A great work for humanity, has
been accomplished. A grand lesson in the economics
of unselfish co-operation, has been demonstrated.
A kaleidoscope of new charms, of fresh beauty, of
an infinite variety of change, of unexpected oppor
tunities, of a host of new expressions, in the possi
bilities of social and industrial life ; the culmination
of untried methods, new hopes and new aspirations ;
have marked this victorious climax. All have con
tributed, to the happiness of the contented villagers

314 SOLARIS FARM.

at Solaris ; filling their hearts with brighter hopes
for the future.

A new era in agriculture has dawned. With it has
come, a new order of life for farm people. The
links of social life, have become more firmly knit.
New chains of enthusiastic interest, in the humani
tarian work represented by the farm, have been
forged by the binding associations of passing years.
Ethical, industrial and spiritual life, has been un
folded, in harmony with the law of progressive plane
tary evolution.

As an illustration of the perfected possibilities of
rural life, this suggestive and pleasing picture is
well nigh complete. Verily ! Virtue has been richly
rewarded, by the pure pleasure of right living ! To
the truths of these things, the lives of the unselfish
co-operators at Solaris, bear most abundant and con
vincing testimony. Happiness and contentment,
reign supreme ! Social solutions, offer new fields of
pleasure to a generous, progressive people, who are
daily becoming better educated, more dominant as
thinkers, more unselfish in all things, therefore,
more virtuous.

In passing from the experimental, to a more per
fect stage of co-operative life, a marvelous change
for the better is noted. New factories have been
built, new industries instituted, and organized. The
busy hum of industrial prosperity, everywhere claims
attention. Meanwhile, the demands for a better
esthetic culture, have not been neglected. The in
teriors of both factory and workshop, have been
made additionally attractive, by a more artistic,
educative class of decorations. All industrial build
ings, are surrounded by well-kept lawns.
" Many handsome cottages, showing a great variety

SOLARIS FARM. 315

of beautiful designs, cosey, vine-clad and pictur
esque, environed by gardens and lawns, have been
added to the architectural display of the village.
Order, symmetry and cleanliness, have become the
established law of the farm.

Barns, stables, stock yards, pig pens and poultry
yards, have been placed at a safe distance from the
village. In the erection of these necessary build
ings, care has been taken, to provide for the re
moval and sanitary dry storage, of the daily accum
ulation of valuable manures. Especially designed
machinery, accomplishes this otherwise unpleasant
task, quickly and easily. By this convenient ar
rangement, with a very little labor, these buildings,
and the stock housed in them, can at all times, be
kept healthy and clean. A most important consid
eration !

Everywhere, appear evidences, of the farms in
creasing wealth in live stock. Great herds of fine
cattle, are fattening in the fields, pastures and barns.
Prize collections of choice sheep, are roaming over
grassy slopes. Fine droves of well grown, healthy
swine, in assorted lots, are contentedly feeding in
small fields of fresh clover. The large drove of
beautiful, highly bred horses, is a very valuable
one. The poultry yards, are filled with many varie
ties of fine fowls. All show the effects of careful
attention, from the hands of care takers, who are
both kind and skillful.

On the opposite side of the village, near the
nursery, the numerous fish ponds are located. Flower
bordered, island studded, and tree margined, with
surfaces dotted here and there, by tiny fleets of
graceful, shell-like pleasure boats. They add much
to the rare beauty of this pastoral picture. Beneath

316 SOLARIS FARM.

the rippling surface of the clear water, in these
miniature lakes, flash the shining scales of a swarm
ing host, of the most delicious of food fishes.

Fragrant, purple and gold, the heavily laden vine
yards, are growing and glowing in the bright sun
light. They give promise of an early generous
fruitage. Thrifty orchards of healthy well-grown
fruit trees, including many varieties, are fast com
ing to maturity. Waving fields of golden grain,
ripple in the simmering heat of a noon-day sun, or
rustle and billow with each passing breeze, under
the pale light of a harvest moon. Beautiful fields
of cotton and corn, are an inspiration to behold.
Fine fields of vegetables, nurseries, gardens and
shrubberies, with a wealth of lovely flower plots, all
add to the charm of the general effect.

The extension of the co-operative system, to em
brace the second farm, has been well started. Fen-
wick Farm, is the name chosen for this farm number
two, of the series. Two years of intelligent, well-
directed work, by its wide awake, industrious peo
ple, have shown surprising results ! They are con
stantly inspired to do better work by the hope of
being able to reach a degree of success, equal to
that achieved by Solaris. In this respect, the spirit
of. healthy rivalry, which has arisen, gives them an
advantage, which the parent colony did not have.
The success already attained by Fenwick Farm, has
attracted widespread attention, in the surrounding
communities. The effect for the good of the county,
and of its people, socially, politically and financially,
has been quite remarkable. The tax payers of the
county, are delighted ! They have been completely
won over, to the side of co-operative farming, by
the force of this second example.

SOLARIS FARM. 317

One of the greatest gains, which, has arisen from
co-operative effort for mutual benefit, between the
two colonies, has been practically illustrated, in the
great work of road building. These two co-opera
tive farm villages, are now connected by a broad,
smooth, well graded road. This road, ten miles in
length, is margined by a wide strip of beautifully
kept parking. Five miles of this parking, on either
side of this magnificent boulevard, become the espe
cial care, of each village. No city in the union,
could display better taste, or greater pride, in keep
ing these beautiful parks, in the most perfect con
dition.

In order to keep the park lawns, foliage and
flowers, always looking clean and bright, it becomes
necessary to keep this road free from dust. For
this purpose, "the entire road surface, is given a fre
quent sprinkling with petroleum. After each sprink
ling, the enormous pressure of an hundred-ton roller,
soon converts the layer of moistened dust, into a
hard, smooth mass of oily rock. This process is
repeated until a thick, heavy, durable surface of
water-proof rock, is secured. This makes an ideal
road ! The hard, well pounded, gravelly soil, below,
gives a permanent foundation, because it is so well
protected against moisture, by this broad, indestruct
ible roof of oily rock. The wide, slightly rounded
surface of the road, sheds water like a duck's back.
Consequently, it is always free from mud and dust.
The broad rubber tires of a great variety of freight
motors, pleasure mobiles and motor cycles, do not
wear its perfect surface. The very acme of pleasure
is reached, in riding over such a delightful road !

After work hours have passed, the pleasure seek
ers from both villages, in merry congenial parties

318 SOLARIS FARM.

are awheel, enjoying to the utmost, the pure, sweet,
flower-perfumed air, together with the soothing,
restful beauty of a park lined drive, of such extent
and variety, as a multi-millionaire, might not be
able to command. Could anything more delightful
be imagined! Is it any wonder, that people from
adjoining counties, thirty miles away, come in droves,
to enjoy a ride over this now famous road ! In the
hearts of all comers, is stirred the imitative spirit of
rivalry. They return to their homes, determined to
co-operate with their neighbors, at least to an extent
that will enable them to build such roads for them
selves. They are convinced, that the excellence of
its roads, in any community, is the only sure test,
which will indicate the exact degree of civilization,
attained by its people.

At the village of Solaris, the universal use of Sol
aris brick, of the various patterns and sizes, has
proved an important factor in the construction of
sidewalks, store houses, industrial buildings, cot
tages, the hotel, the schools and the theatre. The
visitor is at once impressed by the wholesome, at
tractive, substantial appearance, given to the town
by the use of this excellent and durable brick. In
this respect, the square mosaic bricks, of unique de
sign, used in laying the broad sidewalks, twenty
feet in width, which border Railroad Avenue, the
street leading straight from the public square, to
the railroad station, create an effect so marked that
it never fails to attract attention and admiration.
The symmetrical trees and well-kept parking which
line this avenue, serve to enhance the pleasing effect.

The artistic skill acquired by the people of Solaris,
in the making and laying of this new style of brick,
adds another important advantage, to the long list

SOLARIS FARM. 319

offered by co-operative methods. In color, thick
ness, sanitary shapes, variety of designs, fire-proof
qualities, polished smoothness and durability, these
bricks recommend themselves to the favor of the
general public, wherever they go. Without any
effort in the line of advertising, the general demand
for them has continued to increase, until brick-mak
ing has become the leading lucrative industry on
the farm.

Among the new buildings at Solaris, most worthy
of mention, are the theatre, and the two large school
buildings, on either side of it. These structures,
are by far the finest ones in the village. The affec
tionate pride they excite in the hearts of the vil
lagers, is well deserved. Centrally located, on the
east side of the public square, this triumvirate of
noble buildings, claims the admiration of the be
holder, from any point of view on the open square.
The front walls are beautifully ornamented, in har
mony with an architectural design, which is con
sidered by critics, as exceedingly artistic. Inside,
they have been constructed, finished, fitted and
furnished, in accordance with a design, that will af
ford to the villagers, the highest order of education
and amusement.

The theatre is two hundred feet long, and seventy-
five feet wide. The schools, are each one hundred
and seventy-five feet in length, by forty feet in
width. They are separated from the theatre, by
twenty feet of space. A roomy covered way from
the rear, connects them with that building. In con
struction, care has been taken, to secure perfect
light and ventilation.

The school on the left, is for pupils who enter the
primary, and the first, second and third, intermediate

320 SOLARIS FARM.

classes. The one on the right, is for students, who
may be promoted to the first, second and third, high
schools. The seating capacity of each one, is ample
for three hundred children. The decorations of the
walls and ceilings are, to a remarkable degree, both
educative and ornamental. The equipment of school
furniture, such as seats, desks, dictionaries, text
books, globes and outline maps ; drawing-boards,
blackboards and laboratory outfit ; glass cases, for
collections of geological specimens and minerals ;
life size, physiology models and charts ; together,
with a complete series of charts for the other
sciences ; is the best that could be designed or pro
cured.

The theatre, is a very important part of the edu
cative system. Fortunately, the accoustic proper
ties, are remarkably fine ! The entire interior, in
cluding the high ceiling, is decorated with such
boldly beautiful designs, that they never fail to
gratify the artistic sense of the beholder. At night,
the charming effect of these embellishments, is in
tensified, by the use of a great number of brilliantly
colored electric lights ; which are skillfully grouped
and interwoven, as a part of the general decorative
plan. The wide seats, are designed for ease and
comfort. They are richly and durably upholstered,
with dark-brown, polished leather. The seating ca
pacity of this cosey little theatre, is twenty -five
hundred.

The colonists have found this histrionic temple,
very useful It is an ideal place for farm and vil
lage festivals ; and for all kinds of entertainments ;
such as orations, school exhibitions, graduation ex
ercises, vocal and instrumental concerts and dramas;
lectures, operas and every class of theatricals. It is

SOLARIS FARM. 321

also, equally useful and fitting, for stereopticon and
biograph exhibits, of the astronomy, geology, bot
any, natural history, microscopical, and photograph
ic clubs.

The large, well equipped stage and dressing rooms,
offer a permanent, desirable home, for the musical,
choral and dramatic clubs. At intervals of three
months, four weeks in each year ; excellent pro
fessional troups occupy the stage ; presenting a fine
variety, of wholesome dramas and operas. In this
way, the stage of this farm theatre, is made to
represent and reflect, the passing progress of the
dramatic and operatic world. During the intervals
between these star-company weeks, the home-talent
club, presents regular, tri- weekly performances, un
der the supervision of a skillful director. The re
maining nights are as a rule, pretty well utilized by
the numerous local entertainments, before mentioned.

This brief sketch of the generous provision, made
for the education and amusement of the people of
Solaris, will, in connection with the nursery and
kindergarten, hereafter to be described, show what
the co-operative farm can do, when it undertakes to
give to its people a class of educational training and
amusement, which in many respects, is superior to
the best that money can buy for the wealthy. It
will also demonstrate, what can be accomplished,
when the farm determines to produce, and to fitting
ly educate and train, a superior class of children, as
the most important part of the legitimate work of a
co-operative farm. The highest expression of agri
culture ! {The culture of children as a fine art ! The
production of such children," as will make ideal cit
izens for a perfect Republic !

The practical class in farm chemistry, only twelve

11

322 SOLARIS FARM.

in number, is an organization made up by a careful
selection from the brightest minds and best thinkers
in the colony. Under the leadership of Fillmore
Flagg, it has accomplished some excellent experi
mental work; It has been able to add several valu
able allied industries to the resources of the farm, in
addition to those already described.

In breaking ground for opening the new mica and
zinc mines, a great quantity of peculiar clay was
discovered. This clay was of a very fine quality,
entirely free from sand, gravel or other impurities.
Yet, strangely enough, it would not make good china,
porcelain, or pottery ! There was a greasy smooth
ness of feeling possessed by this clay, which sug
gested its name, tallow clay. After considerable ex
posure to the air, it would crack and slack until
finally dissolved into a fine powder. The class was
puzzled. The members were on their mettle ! The
more they worked with this curious clay and failed,
the more they became interested and determined
to persevere, until some discovery should reward
them. The greasy quality of the clay, suggested
soap-stone. Now, the class members had long
wished for some material out of which they could
manufacture a first-class quality of artificial soap-
stone. This tallow clay promised good results,
if they could only eliminate the few constituents,
which were not present in the real soap-stone. The
weeks of careful research spent in this eliminating
process, finally crowned the efforts of the class with
a complete success. The result, was an artificial
soap-stone of excellent quality. Even, when molded
in thin plates, it would withstand exposure to intense
heat for long periods of time, without warping or
shrinking. It soon became evident, that it could be

SOLARIS FARM. 323

made more useful and more valuable, than real
soap-stone.

After some weeks of experimental work, in various
processes of manufacture, the right method was
reached. Fillmore Flagg was convinced, that thous
ands of tons of this product, yielding a large profit,
could be placed on the market much cheaper than
the best quality of fire brick. For a great number
of uses in the industrial arts, and for chemical fur
naces, ore - roasting ovens, furnace linings, stove
linings and even stoves, it would prove immeasurably
superior. The popular demand for this new soap-
stone, soon sustained the judgment of Fillmore
Flagg. This demand continued to increase until the
new industry, became one of the most profitable on
the farm.

After the first success, the class in farm chemistry,
in search of another prize, returned with renewed
vigor, to attack the tallow clay. In working over
the formidable heap of tailings, which had accumu
lated from the soap-stone experiments, the second
prize was quickly found. It proved even more im
portant than the first! This mass of rejected clay
was found to be exceedingly rich in aluminum.
Better still ! It was just in the proper condition, to
be most cheaply and easily extracted ! It was a
great find ! The class members were crowned with
laurels ! Of course, they were jubilant. But they
were not puffed up with pride ! That, was not their
style !

During the fifth year of the reign of the co-oper
ative farm at Solaris, the following mining indus
tries, were added to its resources. Valuable mines
of mica, lead and zinc, were opened and successfully
worked. Electric car lines, connected these mines

324 SOLARIS FARM.

with the freight depot at Solaris Station. There,
the lead and zinc, high grade ores, found a ready
market at good prices. The mica was prepared for
use at Solaris. It was then sold at a fine profit, in
connection with orders for soap-stone.

For two years, the canning factory, had furnished
another avenue for profitably marketing large crops
of sweet-corn, green peas, asparagus, tomatoes,
peaches, and many kinds of perishable fruits and
berries.

The demand for Solaris Vegetable Concentrates,
and for Solaris Mixture Concentrates, has more
than doubled. The same is true of the Solaris break
fast foods, and of the material for delicious break
fast dishes, prepared from mixtures of parched,
sweet, and pop-corn.

The vineyards and the quince, peach, plum and
.cherry orchards, have reached the stage of full bear
ing. Improved methods, careful culture and the
constant use of better chemical agents, for the de
struction of insect enemies, have made the heavy
crops of fruits from these vineyards and orchards,
even more desirable and more salable than ever be
fore. The farm income from grapes and quinces
alone amounting to over one hundred thousand dol
lars per annum.

The quantity of jellies, jams, preserves and mar
malades, made from small fruits, has more than
doubled. The excellence of quality, and established
reputation for absolute purity, has rapidly increased
the demand for them at fancy prices.

Altogether, the rapid and continuous growth of
the farm income, from its allied agricultural and
manufacturing industries, has largely increased the
wages of the co-operators. The purchases at the

SOLARIS FARM. 325

store have been correspondingly augmented. The
sale of goods by the store, to surrounding commun
ities, has been greatly extended. The result has
been a constantly increasing volume of the seven
and one- half per cent profits, steadily pouring into
the insurance fund. Both the general service fund
and the fund for purposes of education and amuse
ment, have been equally benefitted. Fifty thousand
dollars, have been added to the stock of goods, in
the store. The store building, has been enlarged
and improved. A large hotel for the accommodation
of the constantly increasing number of visitors, has
been erected and equipped. At all times, plenty of
money has been at hand, with which to push for
ward all necessary farm or village improvements.
The fame of such general prosperity, has gone
abroad, in the land ; placing the financial standing
of the Solaris Farm Company, on a firm basis with
the commercial world.

Five years of co-operative work, have convinced
the people of Solaris, that successful agriculture,
demands the determined effort, the best thought, the
scientific work and the combined energy of a well
organized force of earnest, unselfish, steadfast work
ers. They are very enthusiastic over the wonderful
results achieved. Freed from the shackles and sins
of a selfish life, they bear the unmistakable stamp
of progress, socially, industrially, intellectually and
ethically. Having cast aside the burden of care and
worry about the future, both for themselves and
their children, they have had a chance to grow and
expand in the real sunshine of life. They have be
come dignified, self-poised, well dressed, educated,
refined, cultured and polished men and women. Good
citizens, of which, any commonwealth might well be

326 SOLARIS FARM.

proud ! Vitally, and vastly more important ! They
have become dominant thinkers, who are capable of
wisely and unselfishly, thinking and planning for
the benefit of the Republic !

In the remarkable success achieved by Solaris
Farm, our hero, Fillmore Flagg, has realized his
highest ambition, his brightest hopes. Relieved
from further responsibility, as general manager, by
the last annual election of the Solaris Farm Com
pany, he has had an opportunity to turn his attention
to organizing companies, for the eight remaining
farm sites. In this work, he has had valuable as
sistance from the officers and members of the com
pany. With a view of making Solaris the present
headquarters of the general movement ; acting on
advice of Fillmore Flagg, the Solaris Farm Com
pany, has amended its charter, to increase the mem
bership of the company to one thousand ; doubling
the capital stock. Five thousand acres of adjoining
lands have been secured, the farmers from whom
they were purchased, coming into the company as
stock-holders. This course seemed necessary and
wise, in order to properly balance the growing in
dustrial and commercial importance of Solaris. With
such a large increase in the number of co-operators,
a surplus of capable young men and women, would
be available, from which to select volunteers, as the
nucleus of a corps of experienced officers for the
newly organized farm companies. In this way, Sol
aris, as the parent farm, would become very impor
tant as the training school, for teachers that were to
supply the wants of such new farms as might grow
out of the general movement.

SOLARIS FARM. 327

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE KINDERGARTEN AT SOLARIS.

AMONG the important buildings at Solaris, we
must consider the large, well appointed nursery,
kindergarten and mothers club combined. The
mothers club occupying a handsome wing to the
main building. Located just in the rear of the long
row of palace homes, and connected with them by a
long, wide, many-windowed hall, it has proved ad
mirably adapted to the purpose for which it was
built. This beautiful structure, is environed by a
lovely lawn, charmingly variegated with flowers and
shrubbery. It is surrounded on three sides, by a
wide, low veranda, only one step above the lawn.
This veranda, except where a broad step connects it
with the lawn, is shut in by a tall balustrade. By
this means unguarded children are prevented from
falling. A broad, overhanging roof, of picturesque
design, covers the entire building. From the inter
ior, many windows coming down to the floor, open
on to the veranda.

The entire floor space, the full size of the main
building, sixty by two hundred feet, is unobstructed
by a partition. That portion devoted to the nursery,
is only separated from the kindergarten by a low
balustrade. A large skylight, in the central roof,
floods this extraordinary room with an abundance of
light. Screens of thin, white, silky cloth are so ar
ranged, that this light may be regulated and soft
ened to any desired extent. The lofty ceiling is
arched, groined and decorated, very like a cath
edral. The high walls are modestly tinted a pale

328 SOLARIS FARM.

green. A broad, beautifully designed, exquisitely
colored border, in perfect harmony with the splendor
of the ceiling, runs uniformly around the upper walls
of this delightful room, adding immensely to the
general artistic effect.

One peculiarity in connection with the floor, marks
a wide departure from the ordinary arrangements
of a nursery or kindergarten school. Six feet dis
tant from the washboard, a depressed railway track,
equipped with long platform cars, ten feet in width,
having their surfaces just level with the main floor,
describes a circuit of the room. Except at the
places of entrance or exit, this circular train or sec
tion of floor on wheels, is guarded on either side by
a low railing. These railings also extend across the
cars, far enough from the ends to allow a four foot
passage between each one. In material and finish,
the floor of the train is uniform with that of the
room. The railings are all of polished oak. Two
cute little gates on each car open to the passage way
at the ends.

The machinery which propels this exaggerated
perambulator, is run by electric power. It is so ad
justed, as to be perfectly under the control of the
nurses and teachers in charge of the room. The iron
frames from which fifty swinging cribs are hung, oc
cupy considerable space on several cars. These
cribs are for the exclusive use of infants, too young
or too weak to sit up. The remaining space on the
cars of this infantile merry-go-round, which the
mothers' club members have named the Cargosita,
is furnished with a remarkable variety of single and
double seats, made low enough to be comfortable for
children from eight to thirty months old. These
seats are as artistic as they are unique ! They rep-

SOLARIS FARM. 329

resent on a small scale, ostriches, swans, geese, dogs,
goats, horses, mules, zebras, camels, elephants,
tigers, and lions ; wagons, phaetons, cycles, cars and
a great variety of pleasure boats. The seating ca
pacity of the cargosita is about three hundred, the
number of children in the nursery and kindergarten,
who are under four years of age. Older children
become inmates of the regular schools.

The cargosita, when ornamented with a profusion
of silk flags, resplendent with gaily colored ribbon
streamers, handsome mats and a choice collection of
small potted plants, palms and flowers ; becomes a
thing of beauty, well calculated to capture and fas
cinate the childish heart. When the train is in
motion, gaily spinning around this five-hundred-foot
oval; the cribs and seats filled with bright happy
children, smiling and crowing, their chubby little
hands clapping in unison with the measure of such
exquisite music as is discoursed by a giant orches
trion, or the electric piano, the vision becomes the
lovliest and most inspiring one of a life time !

When we consider the cargosita as an instrument
for education, we find that it is even more potent as
such, than as a thing for amusement. For the pur
pose of educating the senses, thus laying a sure
foundation, for a broad, healthy, harmonious, de
velopment of the mind, it is invaluable !

A child is the repository of infinite possibilities !
Education, is the process of unfolding these possi
bilities, in harmony with natural law. To discover,
and to apply this law, is the important work of the
educator !

To Prof. Elmer Gates, and to his remarkable dis
coveries in Psychology and Psychurgy, the modern
educator owes a heavy debt of gratitude ! From the

330 SOLARIS FARM.

teachings of Prof. Gates, we deduce ; that in brain
building, that primary step in education, psychologic
functioning creates organic structure, and that or
ganic structure is a manifestation in the concrete,
of the activities of the mind. In other words, that
planted, watered and nourished, by the emotions of
the individual, the thoughts, ideas, concepts and
images which arise, create a corresponding growth
of cell structure in the brain. That these brain
cells become the working tools of the mind.

It follows then, that we cannot have thoughts,
without first having sensations to form images and
concepts, the soil out of which all thoughts naturally
grow. Therefore, if in a practical way, all possi
bilities in the way of sensations, which may come
through the avenue of each one of the child's senses,
are fully developed ; a sure foundation has been
laid, for the largest possible development of brain
and the corresponding growth of thought.

In the natural order of the growth of thought,
nature prescribes the following sequence : A union
of sensations, produces images; a grouping of images,
produces concepts ; a relationing of concepts, pro
duces ideas ; a generalizing of ideas, produces
thoughts of the first order; a generalization of
thoughts of the first order, produces thoughts of
the second order : a still wider generalization of
thoughts of the second order, produces thoughts of
the third order ; progressing in like manner, to the
highest ladder of the mental scale.

In considering this order, we observe that sensa
tions, form the base of the educational pyramid.
All knowledge which comes to the ego, the seat of
consciousness, must come through sensations pro
duced by contact with material things in the do-

SOLARIS FARM. 331

main of nature. Hence, as a primary step in educa
tional work, a careful training of the senses, be
comes a matter of the greatest importance. This
training cannot be commenced, without first ascer
taining what these senses are, and the natural order
of their evolution.

Commencing with the lowest, we have muscle feel
ings, or the sense of musculation ; the sense of
touch, the sense of pressure, the sense of warmth,
the sense of cold, the sense of smell, the sense of
taste, the sense of hearing and the sense of seeing.
Altogether, we have nine important avenues, through
which the inner man may gain a correct knowledge
of the outer world.

Professor Gates has discovered a system of sense
training, which may be successfully applied to kin
dergarten children. In application, only a few min
utes daily practice by each child, is required. By
this training, in extending the upper and lower
thresholds of sensation, the capacity of each sense,
may be doubled from five to eight times. To the
inexperienced, this proposition is so stupendous,
that it seems almost unthinkable ! However, we
may state parenthetically, that an application of this
system, to children in the Solaris kindergarten, has
shown such marvelous results, that its efficacy and
excellence have been well established. It has proved
fully equal to the demands of twentieth century
progress !

Turning again to the teachings of Prof. Gates, we
learn that mind is the key -stone and the arch of life,
the all-containing attribute, which combines all forms
of its expression : that to properly cultivate the
mind, is to extend the scope and usefulness of life.
Hence, that in choosing a system of education, which

332 SOLARIS FARM.

will be in harmony with planetary evolution, there
fore, the easiest and most natural. We must never
lose sight of one great, central, primal fact. It is
this. The mind of the child, which is to be unfolded,
is the production of the cosmic universe ; therefore,
cannot be in fundamental antagonism with it. It
follows, then, that if children gather their sensations,
images, concepts, ideas, and thoughts, directly from
the phenomena of that universe, they will acquire a
kind of knowledge, so real, so superior, that it will
stand the test of an eternity. It is actual knowledge!
There is no theory, no speculation, no guesswork
about it !

The sciences, are facts regarding the phenomena
of the universe, classified and arranged in an orderly
manner. All facts of every kind, naturally fall into
the domain of some one of the sciences.

Man, as the highest expression of the planet, in
his three-fold nature, becomes the gleaner, the
classifier, and the repository of these facts. A
beautiful exposition of the clever handiwork, of the
law of action and re-action. As a cosmic unit of the
larger cosmos, the more perfect his knowledge of
the universe, the more complete, is his store of
knowledge in relation to himself.

Children, in order to become properly equipped
students, must, when ready to take up the sciences,
be prepared to determine what the actual sensations
are, out of which the different possible images of the
sciences are composed. To achieve the most thor
ough education possible, they must know the actual
number of concepts in each science, and precisely
the images out of which they have arisen! They
will then be prepared, to collect and classify, the
mentative data of the sciences. That is, they will

SOLARIS FARM. 333

be able to determine for themselves, experimentally,
the sensations, images, concepts, ideas and thoughts,
which belong to each one.

Practice in this useful training, will lead the pupil,
to the higher, wider generalizations of thought,
which belong to the domain of pure reason. In the
work of classification, by detecting differences, a
knowledge of the inductive process is gained. Sim
ilarly, by detecting likenesses, a knowledge of de
ductive reasoning is acquired.

The body, like the brain, being composed of a co
operative colony of more or less intelligent cells, is
an important part of the mind, which responds to
educational training. True education, then is a de
velopment of both mind and body, in accord with the
law of natural evolution, that embraces all there is
in the domain of morals, pertaining to right thinking,
right living and right doing. In other words, the
action of the mind comprehends the physical, intel
lectual, moral and spiritual expression of the indi
vidual. Therefore, by the rightly conducted pro
cesses of a higher education, we may form an evenly
developed character of the highest order. A char
acter, unfolded physically, intellectually and spirit
ually, in harmony with the requirements of cosmic
law. Hence, the imperative necessity, in the early
training of children, of introducing the first steps of
this system of true education.

Prom these premises we must conclude, that the
first four years of a child's life, should be devoted
to some systematic method, for acquiring a most
complete equipment of exact images, which will af
ford the basis for typical sensations, emotions, ideas
and thoughts, regarding things in the domain of
nature, about which, later in life, the child must

334 SOLARIS FARM.

know in order to become educated. To this end,
children must have opportunities during these im
portant years of image building, to experience all the
sensations, and to form all the true images, that can
come to them through the senses of seeing, hearing,
tasting, smelling, touching, feeling and sensations
of temperature, such as heat and cold.

It is of the utmost importance, that these early
images, which are to become the standard of the
mind, in all judgments of future years ; should be
made as complete and as perfect as possible.

A child is primarily and instinctively imitative.
From the first dawn of intelligence, children strive
to emulate the acts of their brighter, older and
better-taught associates. Hence, the necessity for
a nursery and kindergarten training, such as the
one instituted at Solaris. Practical work, in this
novel and magnificently equipped institution, has
proved conclusively, that, even in ear]y infancy,
associated together in happy groups, children ac
quire intellectual, moral and physical training, much
more easily and swiftly, than is possible under any
other -circumstances. This affords another demon
stration, of the efficacy of co-operative group work,
in the primary steps of education.

The cargosita, is well calculated to offer children
the most perfect conditions, for accumulating a well
selected store of sensations and images, through the
avenues of the different senses. A teacher or nurse,
usually some member of the mothers' club, is seated
on each car as the center of its group. It becomes
her pleasure, to direct attention to the various ob
jects. Let us follow the cargosita with its precious
freight, as it slowly moves around the oval.

Images produced by the sense of seeing, are first

SOLARIS FARM. 335

in order. Large sheets of thick, heavy paper mounted
on cloth, seven in number, displaying the different
colors of the rainbow, are hung at uniform intervals
around the room. They can be raised or lowered,
to reach an easy angle of vision from the cars. After
each primary color, appear half- width sheets of the
same height, displaying the various hues, tints and
shades of that particular color. Printed across each
sheet in large white letters, is the name of the
color, hue, tint or shade. Altogether, this color
scheme forms a combination of great length, of such
remarkable variety, that it becomes for the little
ones, a well nigh inexhaustable source of fascinating
amusement.

Red, with its various hues, tints and shades, is
the first color to be exhibited. Three days later,
another color series is substituted. This course is
continued until the entire series is finished. The
children have experienced in a regular sequence,
the sensations and images, produced by the entire
scale of color. These mental pictures have been re
peated so often, in connection with the muscular
sense of exhilarating motion, that they have become
permanently enregistered in brain- cell formation. A
review every few months, serves to fix these images
more firmly in the brain.

This primary course of educative work is continued,
by taking up consecutively, in regular order ; on a
separate series of sheets, life size, naturally colored
photographs, of fishes, reptiles, insects, birds, ani
mals, and people. Later, geological specimens, glass,
rocks and minerals. To be followed by pictures of
life in the vegetable kingdom, flowers, fruits, plants
and trees. Again, with photographs of works of
art, paintings and statuary.

336 SOLARIS FARM.

Interspersed with this general course, are short
lessons, offered to produce true images, in the hear
ing, s aaelling and tasting areas of the brain.

First, by repeating at different times, while the
cargosita is in motion, with its cargo of infantile
passengers, all of the best musical compositions,
executed vocally, and on the electric piano, the
giant orchestrion, the violin, and a great variety of
other musical instruments. These lessons in hear
ing, are repeated and varied, until the children have
become familiar with most of the sounds in the tone
scale. The mental sound images produced, have
been associated with the happy scenes of this merry
kindergarten life. By this interweaving of pleasant
sensations, they have become more firmly fixed in a
healthy group of brain cells, thus planted and es
tablished in the hearing areas of the brain.

Second : In a similar manner, the taste sensations
and images, are produced and registered. Day after
day, one by one, tiny packages of confections, beauti
fully wrapped in brilliantly colored papers, are
given to the children while on their cargosita ex
cursions. These interesting lessons are continued,
until the entire range of savors has been exhausted.
The curiosity, excitement, pleasure and eagerness
exhibited by children, in these tasting investiga
tions, is something surprising.

Third : Flowers, beautiful flowers of all kinds,
are largely used in producing sensations and images,
to be registered in the brain areas of the sense of
smell. The essence of odors which cannot be gotten
from flowers, are used to saturate small sachet bags,
of charming color and artistic design. These bags
make attractive play-things for the children. While
using them they soon, unconsciously, become very

SOLARIS FARM. 337

skillful in detecting the slightest differences be
tween the various odors. Brain areas usually left
barren, are now filled and developed.

Later in life, when children come to study the
different sciencies, this ability to detect the presence
of the slightest odor, becomes invaluable, in the
difficult work of classification. With such an un
usual equipment, they will be far in advance of
those pupils, who have not wisely, left uncultivated
this important sense of smelling.

In connection with the regular course of exercises,
prescribed for third and fourth-year children, there
is introduced in the play and work rooms of the kin
dergarten, a special training, designed to develop
the various sensations of heat and cold: changes in
temperature, from one extreme to the other : sensi
tiveness to touch : to recognize any degree of pres
sure, from zero to the violence of pain : ability to
detect size, length, breadth, and thickness: degrees
of smoothness, elasticity, and hardness : all through
the senses of touch, pressure, and muscular feeling.

Interesting plays are invented for the children,
into which, these exercises are skillfully introduced.
These plays, have a peculiar fascination. They ex
cite an intense interest, which seems to always at
tract and hold the child's attention, until there is
enregistered, in regular sequence, in the touch areas
of the brain, all the sensations and images, which
can be produced by many weeks of training, in this
systematic course.

The training of the senses, is also carried forward
through the medium of such plays as are calculated
to bring out the child's capacity to distinguish the
least noticeable difference, in pitches of color, degrees
of light, pitches of sound, with its degrees of volume

338 SOLARIS FARM.

and loudness ; together, with ability to discover the
least noticeable difference, in resistance to pressure,
or the slightest increase or decrease of rythmical
motion, etc. The lines of least noticeable difference,
in the capacity of the various senses, having been
well established, the training commences along those
lines. Very soon, in the brain areas of the senses
under training, there comes an increased cell growth,
which gives added sharpness and capacity. The
line of least noticeable difference, is moved one step
nearer the limit. This process is continued with
each sense separately, until the limit for all has been
reached. As a general result of this training, we
find that the child has acquired an extraordinary re
inforcement of brain power and intellectual acute-
ness.

Regular kindergarten work, for children at Sol
aris, between two and four years of age ; is again re
inforced, by adding to the list of exercises, a large
number of plays, which introduce the variously
colored, lettered blocks, so successfully used in Fern
Fenwick's early training, during her seven years of
Alaska life.

The collection of blocks, is a very large one. It Is
calculated to furnish a series of new combinations,
which cannot be exhausted, in the plays of one
whole year. These blocks are made and colored
with the greatest care. The groups or families, are
distinguished, by size, shape and color. The Al
phabet blocks, are large cubes, painted white, with
the letter showing in black on every side. All other
blocks, have a uniform thickness of one-half inch.
They are as large as can be fashioned from blocks
two inches square. The names appear in white let
ters, on all alike.

SOLARIS FARM. 339

The astronomy blocks are star shaped, painted
blue. The geology blocks are diamond shaped,
painted brown. The chemistry blocks are hexa
gonal in shape, painted red. The geography blocks
are globular in shape, painted gray. The blocks
representing physics, are octagon shaped, painted
yellow. The botany blocks are oblong, painted
green. The physiology blocks are triangular in
shape, painted pink. The history blocks are square,
painted black. A large number of the key-words of
the sciences, are painted on blocks, which, in size,
shape and color, are counterparts of those that rep
resent the heads of families to which they belong.

This scheme of blocks, furnishes the ground work
for the construction of a great number of games, for
the amusement and edification of the children.
Games of word-building, such as spelling out the
names of fishes, insects, reptiles, birds and animals.
Also of building the names of familiar things,
houses, stables, light-houses, factories and mills;
rivers, ponds, lakes, mountains, trees and fields ;
hats, shoes, coats, cloaks and other articles of
clothing ; common household utensils in every day
use, such as pots, kettles, pans, pails, cups, knives,
forks and spoons ; stove, shovel, tongs, mop and
broom ; toys, dolls, balls, kites, tops, etc.

By the use of many such ingenious games, the
children unconsciously become familiar with the
names of the sciences, and with all the principal
words, which belong to each one. For example :
Names of heavenly bodies in the domain of astron
omy. The sun, the moon, the milky way, the plan
ets, the constellations, the polar star, and the names
of twenty stars of the greatest magnitude : In the
domain of geology, fossils, shells, minerals, rocks,

340 SOLARIS FARM.

shales, clays, gravels, and the names of geological
periods : In the domain of chemistry, the names of
acids, gases, metals, crucibles, retorts, mortars,
and the names of a great variety of chemical com
binations : In the domain of geography, globes,
hemispheres, continents, islands, oceans, gulfs, bays,
and straits ; equator, tropics, circles, longitude,
latitude, etc. These examples, will furnish an ap
proximate idea of the wide scope in scientific names,
covered by these key-words, when applied to all of
the sciences.

In such plays of science grouping, the interest and
pleasure of the children is intensified, by applying a
system of personification, to the families of the dif
ferent sciences : For instance, Mr. Astronomy Blue;
Mrs. Geology Brown; Mr. Chemistry Red; Mrs.
Geography Gray, etc.

In the greatest and most useful of all games, the
game of classification : Groups of children, spend
hours with their teachers or directors, in separating
and classifying, heaps of miscellaneous blocks, bear
ing the names of the sciences and the key-words be
longing thereto. They are silent, absorbed, con
tented, thoroughly interested and happy. So intense
is the interest displayed, that after the fourth or
fifth game, every child can correctly classify th<^
blocks, by quickly placing them in the groups to
which they belong. They rapidly learn to call the
name at sight, which is printed on any block they
may happen to pick up. Those who have not learned
to read by playing word-building games with the
alphabet blocks, only need to have an unfamiliar
name, repeated to them three or four times by the
director, and it is fixed. Size, shape and color of
block, with length of name and shape of its letters,

SOLARIS FARM. 341

soon serves to make the little ones, perfect masters
of the most difficult names.

These children have learned the value of time.
They have learned to appreciate the joyousness of
useful amusement. They have no desire to clog their
minds, with the untruthful trash of fairy tales and
Mother Goose stories, which played such an impor
tant part in nineteenth century methods. They no
longer need such silly things, as a source of amuse
ment. They seem to realize, that they only have
mind-room, for the truthful, the useful and the prac
tical.

The value and significance of figures, is taught by
the game of forming the pyramid. On badges of
broad, blue ribbon, are printed large gold figures,
from one to ten. Inside the oval, in the center of
the large room, ten rows of seats are arranged : with
one seat in the first, and ten in the last row. That
is, one seat is added to each succeeding row.

At the commencement of the game, when number
one is called by the director, the little boy or girl,
who is decorated with the badge bearing that num
ber, takes the first seat, which forms the apex of the
pyramid. The two children who wear number two
badges ; when called take seats in the second row.
Observing this order, the calling is continued until
the seats are filled, and the pyramid of fifty-five
children is complete.

The director, having taken a position a short dis
tance in front of the apex of the pyramid, proceeds
to call the children to their feet. Calling by num
ber, commencing with the tens, the rows rise in suc
cession, from the base to the apex. Each row is
called upon to perform some part of a short series of
graceful gymnastics. Then, the whole group in

342 SOLARIS FARM.

unison. Later, these exercises are made more in
teresting, by giving each child a small silk flag. In
this part of the game, the children are at their best.
The picture they make, is just lovely!

In the closing part of the game, the children are
seated and the mathematical exercises are introduced.
The director says : ' ' Each child has one nose. How
many noses, have the number tens ? Again, each
child has one body. How many bodies, have the num
ber nines ? Each child has two eyes. How many
eyes, have the number eights ? Each child has two
ears. How many ears, have the number sevens?
Each child has one mouth. How many mouths, have
the number sixes ? Each child has two arms. How
many arms, have the number fives ? Each child has
two hands. How many hands, have the number
fours ? Each child has two legs. How many legs,
have the number threes ? Each child has two feet.
How many feet, have the number twos ? Each child
has ten fingers and ten toes. How many fingers and
toes, has number one ? " These questions are varied
and repeated, day after day, until every child in the
pyramid, can answer any one of the questions, cor
rectly and promptly. To be chosen as a member of
this game, is a coveted honor, it is conferred as a re
ward for good conduct. Consequently, the pride and
pleasure exhibited by these decorated and selected
children, is commensurate with the importance of
this very primitive class in mathematics and physi
ology.

This very brief outline, of the plays, exercises and
studies, which form the nursery and kindergarten
course, for children at Solaris, who are under four
years of age, will serve to show how much important
knowledge, a child can accumulate during those

SOLARIS FARM. 343

fruitful image-bearing years, while pleasantly and
zealously engaged, day after day, in a series of
wisely directed games.

In playing these games, the children have become
interested in, and have learned a very large number
of useful words. These words in the mind of the
child, are as familiar and as easily remembered, as
are the names of favorite toys, such as balls, bats,
kites and dolls. This wide vocabulary of key-words
which has become the mental property of the child,
has planted in the mind the necessary images, which
in future years of study, will serve as a sure foun
dation, for the quick and easy mastery of all branches
of useful knowledge. Many a man of the world has
gone through life, without acquiring such a vocabu
lary.

Considering this primary course of study from
another point of view, we have an illustration of
the value of a method for cultivating the faculty of
memory, which differs widely from any thing known
to ordinary systems of education. From this illus
tration, we perceive that the perfectness and per
manency of memory, is dependent on the foundations
which have been laid for it, by the quantity and
quality of sensations and images, regarding the
things to be remembered, which have been registered
or planted in brain-cell formation. These living
images, fixed on the sensitive plate of the brain by
the law of vibration, in a manner somewhat anala-
gous to etching on the cylinders of a phonograph,
are capable of being reproduced by the will-force
of the individual. From these premises, we have
gained a new definition for the word memory. It is
a process of refunct-oning or reregistering, any sen
sation, image, concept, idea, or thought, which at

344 SOLARIS FARM.

any time has become a part of the growth of the
brain.

In the child's mind, memories regarding objects or
words which have become familiar, are as a rule,
closely connected with memories of keen enjoyment,
resulting from participation in some childish sport.
These memories are many times repeated. A few
small groups of brain cells have become dominant in
growth, because they have received the full force of
the entire stimulating power of the brain. Hence,
the memories of childhood, are much more enduring
than those of after life. Hence, it becomes a matter
of the utmost importance, that these early images,
should be connected with the greatest possible num
ber of natural objects, their names, and the key
words of the sciences, which are used to describe
them.

In these restless years for the little ones, it be
comes a matter of great moment, to keep their minds
busily employed, at what appeals to their self-con
sciousness, as some useful work. In this respect,
the popular science games, gratify and completely
satisfy the pride and dignity of these embryo men
and women. The mind is naturally unfolded, The
brain areas, are all evenly and harmoniously devel
oped. The children, when so usefully employed,
are kept amiable. They do not become nervous,
irritable, cross, or vicious. They are taught, as
soon as they can walk and talk, that the self-respect
and innate dignity, which belongs to them as little
men and little women, demands that they should al
ways treat each other lovingly, politely, kindly, un
selfishly. It is continually urged upon them, that
they must learn to obey the nurse or teacher, with
out delay, without a murmur ; that they must not

SOLARIS FARM. 345

cry or be fretful ; that in these things, they must
always strive to imitate the good acts of older com
rades or playmates. In this way, the moral unfold-
ment and education of the child, keeps pace with the
intellectual and the physical. Altogether, the effect
is most excellent ! Thousands of children have gone
to ruin, for the want of just such training, in the
first four years of life !

The planning and final organization, of this novel
scheme for nursery and kindergarten training, has
been the joint work of Fern Fenwick, Fillmore
Flagg, Gertrude and George Gerrish. In striving
for the best results, this quartet of co-operative
educators, have been ambitious to perfect a system,
which would satisfy the demand for a natural, har
monious unfoldment of the well-born babies, which
were to represent the highest product of Solaris
Farm.

The success which has attended the practical
operation of the scheme, has made them very happy.
Towards this success, Fern Fenwick has been able
to contribute largely, on account of her early Alaska
training, and her thorough knowledge of the im
proved methods, growing out of the important dis
coveries made by Prof. Gates.

In applying the system to the class work of the
regular schools, the long experience, trained skill
and natural aptitude as teachers, of George and
Gertrude Gerrish, has proved wonderfully effective.

By supplementing the system, with a very com
plete course of manual training in the use of tools,
and in acquiring a competent knowledge of the in
dustrial arts, Fillmore Flagg has been equally suc
cessful, in educating the muscular children, and in
arming them most effectively, both mentally and

346 SOLARIS FARM.

physically, for the practical work of life.

Altogether, the complete course, results in an all-
round development of brain power, more than five
times greater than that offered by any other system.
A result, which marks the beginning of a new educa
tional era. A result, which promises to give to the
world, a dominant race of thinkers, whose ability to
bless mankind, is to be so great, that it cannot now
be estimated.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.

IN THE month of August, 1911, six years after our
first introduction to him, we find our hero, Pillmore
Flagg, seated in his private office at Solaris. This
office was located in a building on the public square,
near the store, which has been especially designed
and constructed, for use as the central office for the
general co-operative, farm movement. Here, Fill-
more Flagg, has been busily engaged for more than
two months, in planning the preliminary work for
eight new farms. For the moment, he seems ab
sorbed in a dreamy reverie. From this, he was
sharply aroused by the entrance of a messenger, who
announced a visitor. The visitor proved to be none
other, than our old acquaintance, George Gay lord.
The greetings, exchanged between these re-united
college chums, were cordial indeed ! In the conver
sations which are to follow, the reader will find a
continuation of the story of Solaris Farm.

"Shades of venus ! How well you are looking,

SOLARIS FARM. 347

Fillmore ! I need not ask how you have fared since
last we met ! One look at your face, tells the whole
story ! The goddess of good fortune, must have
smiled on you right royally ! I congratulate you
most heartily ! The fame of your exploits here at
Solaris, has reached New England ! What a lovely
village you have made ! And the farm too, is just
delightful ! To behold it, is well worth the price of
a long journey ! Of course, at some convenient
time, you are to show me the farm, and tell me all
about it."

' ' Thank you George, for your congratulations ;
You have surmised correctly ! I have been pros
pered, far beyond my most sanguine expectations !
At the proper time, I shall take pleasure in relating
the whole story for your benefit. Now, I am anxious
to hear something regarding yourself. Tell me, my
dear fellow ! To what piece of good fortune, do I
owe this unexpected visit ? And, may I hope, that
the goddess you just mentioned, has been equally
gracious with her smiles for you !"

" It is a long story, Fillmore, and I can assure you
it is not a pleasant one. It seems a pity to mar your
peace of mind by relating such a miserable tale of
woe ! During the past five years, the unkind fates
have frowned upon me, and I have suffered much !
In order to give you an intelligent reason for my visit
to Solaris, I must tell you of some good, and many
bitter things which have transpired, since we parted
at the hotel on Mount Meenahga."

"Really ! George, I am sorry for your misfor
tunes ! But surmising so much from your prepara
tory statement, I now wish to know all that you can
consistently tell me. For the bitterness and suffer
ing, you have my sympathy in advance."

348 SOLARIS FARM.

" Thank you Fillmore ! I knew that I could rely
on your sympathy and friendship, under all circum
stances. Please pardon any lack of coherence or
orderly arrangement of details, in what I am about
to relate.

* ' Late in the month of November, which followed
our parting in the mountains, in accordance with
previous arrangements, I took charge of the church
in the New England city, where my uncle George
resided. My relations with the members of the con
gregation, proved as pleasant as could be desired.
I became acquainted with Martha Merritt, my uncle's
niece by marriage. She was a beautiful girl ! Very
winning, sweet and amiable. I soon became fond
of her company. This seemed to please both my
uncle and my mother. I could see that they had set
their hearts on a marriage between Martha and
myself.

"About the middle of the following January, act
ing on a suggestion from uncle George, I asked
Martha for her hand in marriage. After taking a
whole week for consideration, she finally consented
and we were engaged. Some days later, I urged her
to name an early day for our wedding. Very much
to my surprise, she said 'You must not hurry me,
George ! You must give me time ! ' I hastened to
assure her that I did not wish to be inconsiderate,
and begged her to take another week, in which to
fix the date. During this time, I saw very little of
Martha. In the brief interviews that followed, she
was pale and agitated. At the end of the week,
again her old-time self, she came to me with the
news that our wedding day had been fixed for the
fifteenth of June, five months distant. »

''Early in February, the clouds of disaster began

SOLARIS FARM. 349

to gather. My mother was confined to her bed with
what proved to be a serious illness. After four
months of almost constant suffering, which she bore
with the patience and fortitude of a martyr, she was
borne across the dark water, to join that vast ma
jority, that silent, mysterious, ever increasing host
of the buried dead.

' ' My mother was buried on the fifteenth of June.
Overwhelmed with grief, I readily assented to Mar
tha's suggestion, that our wedding should be post
poned until the first of October. Recovering slowly
from the shock of my bereavement, I turned eagerly
to Martha, for loving consolation. I was horrified,
to find that her affection for me had turned to ill-
concealed aversion ! There was a terror-stricken,
haunted look in her eyes, as she strove in every
possible way, to avoid being left alone with me even
for a moment, which frightened and almost crushed
me with grief. I knew that something dreadful,
must have happened ! She was so pitiful to behold,
that I could not be angry or jealous ! But, I re
solved to know the truth. At the first opportunity,
I demanded an explanation. Bursting into tears, she
to.ld me the story of her bitter experience.

"Falling on her knees beside my chair, Martha
implored me to be merciful. 'George, ' she said, ' I
know that I am the most wretched, and the most
desperately wicked girl on the face of the earth!
You have been so kind, and I have treated you so
shamefully ! How, can you ever forgive me ? The
only reparation that I can now make, is to tell you
the whole truth, without reservation. Ten months
before I saw you, while I was at school near Boston,
I met Phillip Plato. The fates would have it, that
we should fall desperately in love with each other,

350 SOLARIS FARM.

at our first meeting. In a short time we were en
gaged. In entering into this engagement, I did so
without the knowledge of my uncle, or any friend.
I did not stop for a moment, to consider my duty to
uncle George, who had always been so good to me.
I could think of no one but Phillip, and of my love
for him. In the delirium of love's first dream, the
weeks passed as days ! Alas ! The dream was pass
ing brief ! Somehow, Phillip's parents became aware
of our engagement. They were very wealthy, and
exceedingly ambitious to have Phillip marry more
wealth. Angry with him, they came to me and
cruelly declared, that they would never allow him to
wed such a fortuneless girl ! With look and gesture'
of scorn, they told me that they were just on the eve
of going abroad, taking Phillip for two years of
travel, in which they should strive to cure him com
pletely of his insane infatuation. This, then was
the end of my romance. My cruelly wounded pride,
rose up in rebellion. I was furious ! I returned
scorn for scorn ! I bade them begone !

" 'I returned to my uncle's home, my heart hot with
the indignation of an outraged pride, and filled with
a determination, to show to the world no sign, but to
use all my strength of will, to cast Phillip out of my
life ; to utterly forget him and his selfish, greedy,
heartless parents. When you came, George, I was
more anxious than ever before, to please my uncle
in every possible way. I foolishly imagined, that
in encouraging your attentions as a lover, I was
helping myself, to forget my love for Phillip. Oh !
What a terrible, cruel mistake ! How terrible, how
cruel, I was soon to realize. You will remember,
George, how strangely I behaved at that interview,
in which you asked me to fix the day for our wedding.

SOLARIS FARM. 351

Let me explain. A few hours previous, while I was
lost in one of my occasional fits of melancholy mop
ing, the voice of Phillip came tp my ears with
startling distinctness. The voice said Martha, you
must remain true to me ! I love you as devotedly
as ever ! I am determined, never to give you up !
I am coming home to wed you ! I am surely com
ing ! Wait for me ! These words kept ringing in
my ears, like the tolling of a funeral bell. They
thrilled me through and through ! The barriers of
my pride gave way. The returning tide of my love
for Phillip, swept in upon me with such force, that
my heart almost ceased to beat ! I was faint, deadly
faint ! When I recovered consciousness and after
wards, at our interview, I was absolutely wretched !
Your request, added to my anguish. I was power
less to answer, I could only beg for more time. All
through that dreadful week, I strove to convince
myself that my ears had deceived me, that the voice
was not real, only a phasma, a hallucination, born
of my fits of melancholy. Unfortunately, I finally
succeeded !

" 'Now, George, you shall hear the sequel, the
climax of my wretchedness. The day before your
mother died, I received a long letter from Phillip.
It was written at Rome. Every line of that letter,
was eloquent with Phillip's steadfast devotion, and
love for me. In brief, a complete verification of
what the warning voice had told me. His parents
had relented. He was coming home to make me his
bride. He had planned to arrive at Boston, in time
to celebrate the New Year. He spoke of a long let
ter, which he had written to me, just on +he eve of
his going abroad. In that letter he had assured me
of his undying love, of his determination never to

352 SOLARIS FARM.

give me up. In closing, he had begged me to wait
for him, to remain true to him. He had repeated
its contents, because he had been constantly haunted
with the idea that the letter in question, had failed
to reach me. And so it had.

' ' ' This, George, is the summing up of my misery !
It has filled my heart with the anguish of despair !
I can never love anyone but Phillip ! I cannot
marry you, George ! I cannot ! It would be an un
pardonable sin against you, against my own soul !
What shall I do ? What can I do ? What atone
ment can I ever make, for the shame, the humili
ation, the suffering, which I have brought into your
life ? '

"In this brief sketch, Fillmore, you have the sub
stance of Martha's sad story. I believe it was abso
lutely true. I was deeply moved, by her abject
misery and humiliation. A great wave of tender
sympathy, swelled in my heart ; blotting out all
thoughts of self. I gave her back her engagement,
and bade her go free; free to marry whomsoever
her heart had chosen ; assured of my forgiveness,
and of my wish for her future happiness. I need
not repeat her grateful thanks. From this time for
ward, our lives were widely separated.

"During the long tedious months that followed, I
was going through a bitter, humiliating experience.
I strove by every effort to so interest myself in my
church work, that I might forget my griefs and my
disappointments. In this, I failed utterly. I found
to my amazement, that I did not possess a thorough
belief or confidence, in the efficacy of the atonement,
the very ground work of the entire scheme of Christ
ian salvation. Without this belief, I could not hope
to do effective work in the ministry. No doubt, this

SOLARIS FARM. 353

was the cause of my lack of interest in my pastoral
duties ; the one thing, during this time of trials,
which most disturbed my mental equilibrium, and
added to the intensity of my sufferings. My growing
antipathy towards all kinds of church work, daily
increased the mental tension, caused by anxious
seasons of watching, praying, and fighting, against
the farther dominancy of this monstrous antipathy.
All opposing efforts proved useless. With each suc
ceeding week, my Sunday services became more
burdensome, more perfunctory, more unsatisfactory,
more self-accusing. At last, in self defense, the
church trustees proposed my taking a year's vaca
tion, for recuperation.

"This welcome respite, I gladly accepted. My
vacation, is now nearly finished. I cannot go back
to my church. I do not wish to go. I realize, that
I am wholly unfitted for its duties. I feel, that I
have made life a failure ! In fact, Fillmore, you see
before you in your friend George Gay lord, a man who
is aimlessly drifting on the sea of life, like a ship
without a rudder. A man not yet thirty, without a
home, without ambition, hope or purpose ! Possibly,
I may be in the clutches of some approaching attack
of nervous prostration, I hope not, I am sure !

' 'You must pardon my prolixity, Fillmore. I will
now give you the reason for my present visit to Sol
aris. After my mother became very ill, some weeks
before her death, she received a letter from Caroline
Houghton, a life long friend, an old schoolmate. At
that time, Mrs. Houghton was residing in a small
town near Denver, Colorado. She was a widow with
scant means of support; with only one child, a
daughter. Mrs. Houghton, in her letter, said: 'I
am dying among strangers ! I am leaving my dar-
12

354 SOLARIS FARM.

ling daughter alone in the world, without money,
without relatives ; simply in charge of recently ac
quired friends. As a last request, I beg you, after I
am gone to exercise a protecting care over my
orphaned child ! '

' ' This letter worried my mother greatly. I think
if she had been well, she would have hurried to Mrs.
Houghton's bedside. After some delay, she finally
turned the letter over to me to answer. Just at that
time, my mind was wholly preoccupied with prepara
tions for my fast approaching wedding day ; and also,
with the adjustment of a number of important church
matters, which demanded my immediate attention.
Without taking time to read the letter, without re
alizing its importance, or its urgency; I mechan
ically placed it in my desk, thinking meanwhile, that
when the time came in which I could pen a reply, I
would then confer with mother for further instruc
tions. Unfortunately, the letter became misplaced
and all memory of its existence, passed out of my
mind !

"One month ago, while busily engaged in assort
ing and rearranging a confusing mass of papers, I
found the lost letter. After reading it carefully, I
became conscience-smitten, as I thought what seri
ous results might have followed my criminal negli
gence. I then commenced a search for this young
lady, which has finally lead me to Solaris. I have
traced her here, as a member of your colony. Her
name is Honora Eloise Hough ton. Do you know her,
Pillmore ! Is she here ? "

' ' Make yourself perfectly easy, friend Gaylord !
She is here ! She is all right ! Miss Houghton
does not need your protecting care, or the protecting
care of anvone. She is abundantly able to take

SOLARIS FARM. 355

good care of herself and of plenty of other people
besides ! She can dissipate your troubles in a jiffy !
She can give you something to think of, which will
not fail to hold your close attention. She can soon
find a work for you, in which you will be interested
in spite of yourself ! In fact George, Honora Eloise
Houghton, is one of the brightest, most independent,
capable, self-poised, self-supporting young women
at Solaris ! If she should kindly consent to take
you und°r the brooding care of her protecting wing,
in one month's time you would not know yourself,
you would be transformed into a new man ! But,
Miss Houghton is a very busy woman. One of the
most useful on the farm ! Just at present, she is
the leading director of the nursery and kindergarten
school ; the principal female teacher, in the gym
nasium ; the president of the dancing club ; the
secretary and treasurer of the physiology club ; and
vice-president of the botany, chemistry and history
clubs. After faithfully performing the duties be
longing to these offices, she still finds time to do a
great amount of scientific research and reading ; so
much, that last year, she easily carried off the prize,
which was awarded to the best qualified, scientific
student among the young ladies at Solaris."

' ' Stop, Fillmore ! You grieve and astonish me !
You surely must be jesting, in dishing up this long
rigmarole, about Miss Houghton's accomplishments !
After what I have told you, I cannot conceive how
you can fail to understand, that I am not in a mood
for jesting. As for the girl, I very much desire to
meet her, that I may have an opportunity to express
the regrets and apologies for my unfortunate ne
glect of her mother's letter, to which she is so just
ly entitled. This painful duty once performed, my

356 SOLARIS FARM.

interest in Miss Houghton will cease. "

"I assure you, George, I am not jesting! I am
very much in earnest ! I think I understand your
case thoroughly. I know that you do not realize the
seriousness of that paralyzing, apathetic condition,
into which you have fallen. I do not think you need
condolence, or any form of mild sympathetic treat
ment. I am sure you do need very much, to be
aroused by new associations, scenes, friends and ac
quaintances ; strong magnetic people, with ideas so
radical, so startling, that by one quick wrench, your
line of thought may be diverted into some entirely
new channel. If therefore, in my talk to you about
Miss Houghton, I have succeeded in arousing your
indignation, in the slightest degree, I shall be en
couraged by knowing that my efforts for your good,
have been made in the right direction. "

' ' Pardon me, Fillmore ! I fear I have been hasty !
And, that I have entirely misjudged your motive ! I
am now in a much better frame of mind, to listen
attentively to what you have to say."

"That sounds much more reasonable, George. I
will now return to my description of Miss Houghton,
which was broken off by your interruption. For the
reasons I have just stated, I believe that Miss
Houghton, is the one individual in a thousand, whose
acquaintance just at present, would prove most bene
ficial for you. Of course you have not seen her, you
do not know her ; therefore, you cannot appreciate
the peculiar charm of her magnetic presence, or the
force and dignity of her attractive character. For
this reason, a personal description, will fail to give
you an adequate idea of the noble type of womanhood
which she represents.

"However, George, after these preliminary re-

SOLARIS FARM. 357

marks, I hasten to assure you, that as a woman,
Honora Eloise Houghton, is a goodly person to be
hold. One inch less than six feet in height, straight
as an arrow, broad of shoulder, and round of limb,
swift of hand and foot, lithe and willowy in every
motion, her commanding figure possesses the grace
and beauty, of a Venus and a Diana combined. Her
large, full, well turned neck and throat, fittingly
supports a symmetrical, well poised head, of the
same noble proportions. A long, thick, luxuriant
growth of golden hair, brilliant with changing hues
of a coppery tinge, seemingly so surcharged with elec
tro-magnetic force, as to form a halo of sunshine
around both face and head, is her chief personal
adornment. Her large, oval face, well formed mouth,
strong white teeth, firm chin, finely arched, strongly
defined brows, broad, smooth forehead, and straight
grecian nose ; all denote a character of marked type
and unusual force. Full, clear, gray eyes, set well
apart, beautifully and mirthfully expressive, to
gether, with a bright, ruddy complexion, are both
indicative of Miss Houghton's perfect health and
strong, vital, nervous-sanguine temperament. With
this temperament and such a magnificent physique,
reinforced by wonderful psychic powers, she is an
ideal healing medium. The very personification of
health ! Such is the potency of her magnetic force,
that among the people of Solaris, cures performed
by the simple process of laying on of hands, have
made her the marvel of the village ; they have won
for her the confidence, respect, admiration and love,
of every member of the colony; man, woman or child.
1 'In conclusion, George, I may say with pride,
that Miss Houghton represents one of the noblest of
women, which may be discovered, evolved or grown

358 SOLARIS FARM.

by the co-operative farm. As an exponent of what
the movement can do for woman, she is a shining
example, of which our people may well be proud !

''Try to be patient with me, George ! I have de
scribed this young lady, at such length, in order
that you may meet her without prejudice. We will
now go in search of Miss Houghton, for an inter
view. After introducing you, I will return here.
When the interview is at an end, I will have my
light, road mobile ready, and we will t<ike a spin
around the farm. Afterwards, if there should be
time, we will take a run over to Fenwick, ten miles
away."

"That arrangement will suit me very well, Fill-
more ! I am now quite curious to meet Miss Hough-
ton. After my interview with her is concluded, I
shall be delighted to accompany you on a mobile ex
cursion over the farm. I have in mind a host of
questions, which I wish to ask ; after my tour of in
spection, I am sure I can frame them more intelli
gently."

Four days later, we find George Gaylord, again
seated in the office with Fillmore Flagg. They are
speaking of things which have transpired, during
the interval named.

"You are looking decidedly better, to-day, George !
I congratulate you ! After the fright you gave me,
while at the club dance, that evening after your ar
rival at Solaris, I thought you were ticketed for a
long* serious illness.'

"Really, Fillmore, I have Miss Houghton to thank
for being able to again walk and talk with some de
gree of steadiness ! She is truly, the most mar
velous woman, that I have ever met ! There seems
to be a healing power in the very touch of her gar-

SOLARIS FARM. 359

ments ! I feel quite sure, that she has saved my
life. I ought to apologize to the members of tho
dancing club, for the very awkward sensation, which
must have followed my unfortunate collapse ; that
sudden attack of giddiness and loss of consciousness.
Miss Houghton tells me, that the attack lasted over
an hour, after I had been placed on a cot in the
hospital. Were you there, Fillmore ? "

"What a question, George ! Of course I was
there ! That one hour, seemed three to me. Know
ing something of your critical condition, I was blam
ing myself, for having foolishly attempted to crowd
so much into your first day's experience at Solaris.
However, Miss Houghton assured me, that I need
not be alarmed over the trance-like condition, into
which you had fallen. She seemed to understand
your case from the first, and declared that she could
cure you with a few days treatment. She further
stated for my benefit, that I was in no wise respon
sible for the attack of vertigo, which in your con
dition, was liable to occur at any time.

' ' So far as the dancing club people are concerned,
no apologies on your part are needed. They under
stand the circumstances, and wish me to assure you,
that they will rejoice with you over your speedy re
covery. It seems, George, that your physician pre
scribes plenty of fresh air and sunshine for you,
during the next few days. Do you think you are
strong enough to-day, for another mobile excursion
over the farm ? "

"Yes Fillmore, quite strong enough, provided the
excursion is not too long. To-morrow, if the weath
er should be fine, I hope we may be able to take that
trip to Fenwick, which you spoke of on the after
noon of my arrival. The more I see of the farm,

360 SOLARIS FARM.

the more I am interested and delighted. In a very
short time, I believe I might become an enthusiast
on the agricultural question. Hitherto, I have had
an unexpressed antipathy, towards farm work.

"Strongly impressed with the idea, that a farm
life must necessarily, be as dull as ditch water ; I
find Solaris a revelation, which has opened my eyes
and scattered my foolish prejudices to the four winds.
At every turn, some new surprise awaits me. My
typical farmer, with his shock of untrimmed hair
and beard, his stooping shoulders, his shambling,
plow-following gait, his great cow-hide boots, his
coarse, soiled, slouchy, ill-fitting blouse and over
alls, his grimy hands, his ill -at- ease, uncultured
manners, and his born-tired expression of counten
ance, I cannot find. In his place, much to my as
tonishment, I do find a splendid people, in the prime
of life, lithe, active and energetic, in the possession
of a superabundance of vitality, which gives them
the graceful air of having grown to a perfect matur
ity, on the sunny side of life. What does it mean ?
Everywhere, I am politely greeted, by dignified,
graceful, self-poised, rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed, hap
py, well-dressed, educated, refined and polished men
and women. Can it be possible, that they are farm
laborers ? "

"Every one, friend Gay lord ! It is to rightly or
ganized farm labor, properly supplemented by ap
propriate machinery, that these people owe the su
perior condition in which you find them."

"You have surely created a new era in farming,
Fillmore ! Do you think a general introduction of
co-operative farming, will produce equally success
ful results elsewhere ? "

"Much better and more satisfactory, George ! Co-

SOLARIS FARM. 361

operative farming, even here at Solaris, has as yet
scarcely passed the threshold of the experimental
stage. Every new farm, will profit by the errors
and successes of those previously established. Each
one will add to the strength and working capacity
of the mass. This improvement will steadily in
crease, until the children born under the new sys
tem, become its principal working factors. When
that time arrives, the influence of the born and bred
agriculturalists, will have grown so strong, socially
and politically, that a new impetus will be given to
the movement, by the favorable legislation which
they can then command.

"When we consider the future of the co-operative
farm, as a working factor for good, in the affairs of
the Republic ; we can then appreciate the great im
portance of the movement. Stirpiculture, wedded
to agriculture, ushers in a new era for the birth and
education of an epoch-making race of dominant
thinkers, so well born, so self -poised, so harmon
iously developed, physically, intellectually, and spirit
ually, that without effort, they are naturally chosen
by the masses, as social and political leaders."

"What an enthusiastic dreamer you are, Fillmore !
The picture of the future of the movement, which
you have so graphically drawn, seems too good to
be true ! My brain is in a whirl trying to follow
you ! Let us now prepare for that promised ride. "

362 SOLARIS FAKM.

CHAPTER XL.

THE COMING ERA OF GOOD ROADS.

"SINCE our mobile excursion to the farm village
of Penwick, I have been haunted by the beauty,
smoothness, utility and durability, of the magnificent
highway, which now connects the two villages. I
am more than ever impressed with the power of the
co- operative movement, to effect a revolution in all
industrial methods ; especially, in travel and the
transportation of farm products. Tell me, Pillmore !
Do you think this road-building fever, will continue
to spread with the growth of the movement ? "

"Yes, George, with every new road, will come an
a Ided impetus to the movement, which will insure a
s toady progress. The importance of good roads as
a source of wealth, and a mark of civilization, is just
beginning to be understood by agricultural people,
and by rural populations generally. Oppressed on
every hand by the universal extortion of railroad
monopoly, they are slowly awakening to a realization
of the fact, that the question of cheap transportation,
is for them, the one, overshadowing question, which
demands immediate attention.

"As an object lesson on the subject of good roads,
the introduction, and constantly increasing use, of
bicycles, motor cycles, motor freight wagons, auto
mobiles, electro mobiles, locomobiles, and the entire
class of vehicles equipped with rubber tires, has
aroused a widespread interest, which is prophetic of
groat results. Acting as a strong reinforcement to
this educational work, the co-operative farm, with
the advantage of its village organization, represent-

SOLARIS FARM. 363

ing in the public mind, such an attractive combina
tion of agricultural, industrial and social life; will
by the force of example, give an additional impetus
to the systematic construction of broad, permanent
highways ; that shall prove a source of pride, to the
community through which they pass ; roads, that
shall last for centuries.

"Reacting favorably, in broadening the mission
of the co-operative farm- village, with its promise of
permanent homes, and employment for the unem
ployed, and the homeless ; the continuous construc
tion of these free avenues of travel and transporta
tion, will soon affect the status of all rural populations,
by vastly increasing their wealth and power. For
them, the vexed problem of transportation, will be
solved. They will discover by actual experience,
that these wide, durable wagon roads, will connect
them with distant centers of traffic, and serve them
better and more honestly, than steam railroads ;
that in cost of construction and repair, they are
much cheaper ; that when constructed, they belong
to the people as absolutely, free highways ; that no
greedy corporation, can control them ; that no threat
ening, irritating, lawless force, of Pinkerton's armed
thugs, is required to protect them ; and finally, that
they offer every inducement to unfettered genius, to
invent and to freely exploit, better and cheaper
vehicles.

"As one grand result of this combined educational
work, rural life will become exceedingly desirable
and charming. The great city, will lose its attract
ive force. ' The tide of migration, will flow back to
the pure air, invigorating sunshine, blue sky, and
the verdure-clad hills of the country. In a general
way, we may predict, that a few years hence, every-

364 SOLARIS FARM.

where throughout this broad land, we shall find pic
turesque, prosperous, well populated villages. As
the minor centers of education, art-culture, refine
ment, amusement, progressive race-culture, scientific
agriculture, esthetic, social and co-operative life ;
they will be embroidered, like a va^t net-work of
shining pearls, on a perfect system of broad, smooth,
highways. In their construction, ornamentation and
maintenance, these good roads will utilize and ex
press, the pride, energy and best inventive genius,
of the village centers thus linked together. As a re
sult, the Republic will be gridironed with a superb
system of free highways, more permanent, more
perfect, and more beautiful, than those old, historic,
Roman roads, which even now are existing monu
ments to the solid character of Roman civilization.

' ' This imperial road system will be complete, when
the co-operative farm has reached every township in
the union. Then, we may calculate the results,
which are to follow. Broad, tree- shaded, park-lined,
flower-bordered boulevards, will connect New York
with San Francisco ; Galveston with Saint Paul ;
Portland, Maine, with Portland, Oregon ; Los Ange
les with Saint Louis ; Boston with Buffalo, Phila
delphia, and Baltimore with Jacksonville, Florida ;
New Orleans with Cincinnati and Chicago ; the won
ders of Yellowstone Park, with the crags and glens
of the White Mountains, Niagara Falls, with the
Grand Canon of the Colorado ; the orange groves of
Florida and California, with the picturesque, cool,
invigorating, health resorts of Lake Superior ; the
wheat fields of the great Northwest, with the coal
mines of Pennsylvania ; Washington, the nation's
capital, with every seaside resort, every mountain
view, every beautiful city, every healing spring,

SOLARIS FARM. 365

and every hamlet and village of the Republic.

1 'Pulsing with a new tide of social and industrial
life, flowing through the arteries of this unequaled
system of great highways ; all of these places, both
great and small, will become more closely bound to
gether, by the links of a new social order ; repre
senting the beginning of a higher civilization. Then,
these beautiful highways, will be glorified and ap
preciated by mankind, as the monumental work of
one, broad system, of co-operative farm villages.
Then, these villages, which have made such a system
possible, may collectively claim the proud distinc
tion, of being known as the Nation's Committee on
Good Roads."

' ' Excellent ! Most excellent ! Fillmore. Your
prophetic vision, with the vastness and the brilliancy
of its sweeping scope, fairly takes my breath ! Yet,
I must confess, that judging from the masterly
system of road-building inaugurated by Solaris and
Fenwick, the evolutionary results which you so con
fidently predict, are both reasonable and logical.
What additional results, do you claim for the sys
tem?"

"At this time, George, neither tongue nor pen,
may attempt to describe the marvelous results which
will follow the introduction of an era of good roads.
In a brief way, I will try to give a few of the most
important. In the matter of travel and transporta
tion, these free highways, -will annually, save mil
lions of dollars to citizens of the Republic, by en
abling them to escape from the clutches of the largest
and most powerful of all monopolies ; the railway
monopoly. A monopoly, that for many years, has
held the public by the throat ; exacting a tariff so
exorbitant, as to be almost prohibitory. A monopo-

366 SOLARIS FARM.

ly, which has had the amazing gall to pose as the
farmer's especial benefactor. A monopoly, that while
so posing, has robbed the country of one-half its
wealth, by transferring the same to cities. A mo
nopoly, that in the name of good business, has had
the stupidity to decree through its tariff schedule,
that miles and miles of empty freight cars, shall
daily, throughout the land, roll past hundreds of
thousands of farms, where countless tons of heavy
freight, in the way of fresh vegetables, lie rotting for
the want of a market. A monopoly, that never neg
lects an opportunity for fleecing the public. A mo
nopoly, so unscrupulous, that for the pork trust, it
will haul a hog across the continent for ninety cents;
while for indifferent service, it dares to charge the
people, from two and one-half, to five cents per mile.
"And yet, George, just think of it ! In the begin
ning, this monopoly was chartered to serve the people
who granted the franchise. A monopoly, now grown so
bold, that when the public protests that the franchise
is violated, because the interests of the people are
no longer served ; a Vanderbilt railroad king, insol
ently replies : ' The public be damned ! ' A monopoly
that has killed all healthy competition, by organizing
all railroads into one giant pool; thereby creating
the mother of trusts, controlling a corruption fund of
enormous magnitude. A monopolistic trust, grown
so rich and powerful, as to be beyond the reach of
law; boldly corrupting courts, buying legislators,
and turning the administration of justice into a farce.
In fact, this monstrous combine, has become so
dangerous to every interest of good government,
that the law of self-preservation demands that it
shall be speedly wiped out, by the government
ownership of all railroads.

SOLARIS FARM. 367

"We may now consider the ways and means, by
which our co-operative system of good roads, can
control railroad freights, and finally drive railroads
to government ownership. Long before the close of
the first half of the twentieth century, thousands of
miles of these fine wagon roads, will be found in
every State. Responding to the demands of legions
of voters, who reside in the co-operative farm villages
bordering these charming highways ; a strong force
of legislators, will everywhere rise up, as eloquent
advocates of the good roads movement. Honest and
faithful, inspired by a tenacity of purpose which
will brook no opposition from railroad lobbies ; en
couraged and strengthened, by an ever increasing
army of enthusiastic voters behind them, these tire
less legislators will not halt, until the entire system
of good roads, so well begun by the farm villages,
shall be taken up, completed, and perfected by the
State. Ten years of such forceful work, will surely
accomplish the task.

"Then, to the champions of the system, shall
come their reward. They shall behold, flowing in
mighty streams, over the wide, petroleum treated,
dustless surfaces, of these far-reaching, absolutely
free highways, the traffic and travel of a mighty
Republic!

* 'Then, will come the demonstration of what Ameri
can genius can do, toward the evolution of a superior
class of rubber tired, horseless vehicles, which shall
prove the best, cheapest and most durable, for pur
poses of freight, traffic, and travel, on such a com
plete system of fine roads. Th^ best of our present
types, when compared with these twentieth century
road flyers and freight rollers, will seem poor, crude
affairs. The irresistible volume of this swift stream

368 SOLARIS FARM.

of the new travel, and the new transportation, elo
quent with the progress of the century, will herald
the coming of a well-merited doom for the monopo
listic railroad combines.

"Then, local travel and traffic, will make haste to
desert the iron rails. Railroad freights everywhere,
will fall to zero. Short railroads — branches and
feeders to main lines — will become useless and worth
less. Many of them will be sold at auction, for less
than the cost of the iron in the road-bed.

"Then, shorn of their ill-gotten gains, the mighty
railroad rings of the land, will fall from their tall
pedestals of pride, where for years, they have posed
as owners of the earth. With financial ruin staring
them in the face, they, and the whole brood of
erstwhile railroad kings, will make urgent haste to
sell to the government, at the bare cost of construc
tion, such great through lines as may be necessary
to maintain inter-state commerce, and across-the-
continent traffic. Other roads, they may not sell at
any price. A government for the people, and by the
people, will have no further use for them.

' ' Then at last, the supreme folly of having a half-
dozen competing lines, running side by side through
the same territory, will be fully demonstrated. With
this demonstration, will come the opportunity, to
scores of paid press writers, pessimistic bigots, self-
conceited, unprogressive wiseacres, who have so
long and so loudly derided the government owner
ship of railroads, as the most suicidal and unbusi-
ness like scheme ever hatched ; to answer this per
tinent question : Would it be possible, for govern
ment engineers building public railroads, to ever be
guilty of such monumental stupidity ?

"The social effect of these good roads, on the.

SOLARIS FARM. 369

lives of all agricultural people, will prove even more
important than the financial advantages gained.
Hitherto, they have been so hampered by environ
ments, by lack of means, and lack of leisure, that as
a class they have been unable to enjoy or to appreciate
the wonderful, the educational, the broadening and
the refining effect of much travel, on the mind of the
individual. From lack of experience, they do not
realize that the sum of human life is the sum of its
sensations, which are produced by change of en
vironment, contact with a larger or lesser series of
natural phenomena, and more especially with other
lives.

"The more progressive lessons of life, are learned
from example and not from precept. Men and
women, are only children of a larger growth, they
are imitative creatures with a natural instinct to
choose other, higher, and better lives as models.
Hence the great value of travel as an educator. The
larger the area covered by the traveler, the wider
the field of experience and choice. Through the law
of action and reaction, social contact with a multi
tude of actors and thinkers, refines the individual.
A healthy spirit of emulation is aroused, which leads
on to progress.

"With the advent of a universal system of good
roads, cheap travel, and a dominant combination of
co-operative, industrial and agricultural enterprise,
an extraordinary era of recreation and travel, will
dawn for all rural people. Opportunity, leisure, and
means will be abundant. All co-operative workers,
can afford to take an annual vacation of at least one
month. The ownership of a swift, roomy, durable,
road machine, capable of making from twenty to
thirty-five miles an hour, will be within the means

370 SOLARIS FARM.

of every family. In this private car, the family, or
a select party, could easily and leisurely accomplish
a five thousand mile tour in twenty days. Along the
whole distance, farm villages, from fifteen to twenty
minutes apart, would offer the travelers, machine sup
plies, repairs, and excellent hotel accommodations,
for an expense not in excess of the same at home.
Than this, no traveling excursion could be more de
lightful ! For pure enjoyment, a select party of
nineteenth century millionaires, could not equal it.

"The enjoyment of such delightful opportunities
for even a single decade, would make the rank and
file of the republic thoroughly acquainted, with the
soil, scenery, forests, lakes and rivers; the mining
and manufacturing possibilities ; the peculiar char
acteristics of the people, their local ambitions, politi
cal wants and future demands, of every state and
county in the union.

"Thus equipped with this important knowledge,
each voter, both men and women alike, would be pre
pared at any time to vote intelligently and wisely, on
every question affecting the welfare of the republic
as a whole, or in part. Elected to Congress, these
voters would appear as the ablest, most patriotic,
most just, and most incorruptible body of law-makers
ever known. Understanding the equities of right
eous dealing between themselves as fellow citizens,
they would be prepared to decide correctly on all
questions of an international character, which might
affect the interests of the world at large. This
would be a demonstration of the rule, as to the for
mation of a true republic. To make the entire po
litical fabric both enduring and progressive, the
units or voters, must be well born and rightly trained.
Of this training, travel is an essential part, which

SOLARIS FARM. 371

should not, which must not be overlooked.

"As affecting their social and intellectual progress,
these years of travel would improve all classes of
agricultural and industrial people, to a still higher
degree than the one achieved in political expression.
A general interest would be aroused in questions of
political economy, race culture, psychology, and
physiology; geology, geography and history, botany,
chemistry, and mineralogy; which later, would lead
to close reading and hard study in the whole domain
of scientific research, as the one sure method of in
creasing the scope of individual happiness. Every
succeeding year of this travel-training, would result
in binding all classes still more firmly together, into
one harmonious, homogeneous mass. Now George,
tell me what you think of the good-roads question !
Is it not one affecting the vital interests of humanity
to a marvelous extent ? "

"Marvelous, Fillmore! Most marvelous ! Here
after, you can count on me as an enthusiastic advo
cate. I cannot say too much in its favor."

CHAPTER XLL

CO-OPERATIVE ETHICS.

"SPEAKING of wages," said George Gay lord, "did
I understand you to say, that all of the co-operators
at Solaris receive the same pay?"

"Yes, George, equal wages for all classes of work
ers, is the motto at Solaris. Recognizing the soli
darity of the interests of society, simple justice de
mands the same rate of pay for each member of the

372 SOLARIS FARM.

company ; without regard to sex, or particular quali
fication."

"It seems to me, Fillmore, that justice would de
mand that each one should be paid according to skill
and capacity. I cannot understand, how anyone
capable of being a foreman, would be content to
accept, as a just equivalent for his services, a com
pensation as low as that awarded to the least capa
ble worker in the colony."

"I think I shall be able to convince you, George,
that a correct view of this question, is largely a
matter of education. You have, perhaps uncon
sciously, voiced the usual argument against the
equity of equality, which is made by the champions
of the competitive system. Our people have learned
from experience, that the co-operative farm move
ment is a leveling up process, which purposes to
raise the weaker units, to the condition of the higher.
They have learned, that society is a purely co-opera
tive institution. They have learned, that the wants of
society, create value for the products of labor. So
ciety, then, is labor's market. In this market, the
wants of the weaker units, are just as important, as
are those of the stronger. Stimulated by the number
and variety of these wants, inventive genius has
given to us tools and machinery, which have in
creased, at least one hundred fold, the capacity of
labor to produce. In the creation of tools and
machinery, the mental acuteness and inventive skill
of the weaker unit, often surpasses that of the
stronger. It follows, then, that each one of the
weaker units, is justly entitled to an equal share of
the advantages which are conferred on labor by
society, with its market and equipment of tools and
machinery. These advantages, make the productive

SOLARIS FARM. 373

work of all classes, nearly equal. Let us try to find
the real difference, between the daily labor products
of the strongest and the weakest workers. Let us
consider present conditions here at Solaris, as an
illustration. Let us take one hundred dollars, as the
value of the product of one day's labor, by an aver
age person, plus the advantage of such superioi*
social organization, training, tools and equipment, as
Solaris can now furnish. On the other hand, let us
take fifty cents, as the value of one day's labor, by
the strongest, most capable worker, when isolated
from his fellows, and from all social organization,
with its tools and equipment. Under Jbhe circum
stances, allowing that the strongest could produce
twice as much as the weakest, we should have
twenty -five cents, as the value of the daily product
of the weakest worker. These sums, compared with
one hundred dollars, would give us the exact differ
ence between the strongest and the weakest, under
the favorable co-operative conditions, existing at
Solaris. A difference, so trifling as to be scarcely
worthy of consideration, only one-fourth of one per
cent. What think you, George ! Where now is the
injustice of equal wages ? Remember, when justice
is done, the mission of charity is finished ! "

"Your clear statement of the case, has proved a
revelation to me, Fillmore ! I am quite ready to
acknowledge the exact justice, of your co-operative
system of equal wages. I am profoundly impressed
with the soundness of your argument, that women
and all weaker units in the army of labor, are justly
entitled to an equal share of the advantages con
ferred on labor, by social organization, and by the
education, training and equipment, resulting from
that organization. This view of the question, is a

374 SOLARIS FARM.

new one to me. It places the whole subject, in quite
a different light. By the aid of this light, I am
beginning to understand something of the intricacy
and force, of this co-operative machine, which we
call society; and how much it affects the question of
labor and wages.

"My experience with co-operative farming here at
Solaris, is beginning to bear fruit. Under your in
struction, friend Flagg, I think I can now under
stand the wide difference, between the competitive
and the co-operative systems of organized labor.
The former, benefits the few at the expense of the
many. The latter, raises the individual, by benefit
ing the mass. The first, seems to be a constant
menace, which threatens the peace, welfare and
stability of society; clearly making for evil. The
second, striving for the interests of all, builds up,
strengthens and purifies the weaker units ; unmis
takably making for good. The results seem to
marshal themselves on the side of co-operation, for
the purpose of demonstrating the truth of its shibbo
leth, that the injury or weakness of one, is the con
cern of all. In other words, to raise the lower strata
of society, means a corresponding elevation for the
upper. The average morality, happiness and pros
perity of society, is measured by the morality, happi
ness and prosperity of its weaker units. Tell me,
Fillmore, does the acceptance and advocacy of this
view of the relations existing between labor and
society, make one a socialist ? "

"They surely do, George! They make you a social
ist of the most progressive type. I am both surprised
and delighted, to find how well you have learned the
lesson of co-operation."

"If the co-operators at Solaris, are socialists, then

SOLARIS FARM. 375

they must be good people. I am perfectly willing to
be classed with them. At all events, I am a thorough
convert to the co-operative system. I can now under
stand the scope and significance of the work ; and
why it is, that the Solaris workers, are so much
superior to any farm people I have ever known. I
begin to perceive that the success of the co-operative
farm, means the regeneration of society.

"This morning, Fillmore, under the guidance of
Miss Houghtoa, I visited the kindergarten, the
schools, the club rooms and the theatre. I was
amazed, to find such a magnificent system of educa
tion and amusement, in successful operation, for the
benefit of a farm village. Indeed ! A city of fifty
thousand people, would be very fortunate, in the
possession of such a fine one ! How did you manage
to make it possible ? "

"In carrying out the wise plans of Fennimore
Fenwick, you behold to-day, the result of combined
co-operative agriculture and stirpiculture, which
affords to our people, and to their children, con
ditions for education and amusement, fully equal
to anything, money can procure for the wealthy.
Children born at Solaris, under carefully prepared
conditions for a perfect motherhood, are endowed
with a precious birth-right, far superior to anything
heretofore known to heirs of wealth. The system is
being constantly improved. As it now stands, I con
sider it the crowning success of the co-operative
movement.

"Speaking of Miss Houghton, George, reminds
me of a question ! You have yet to tell me, the re
sult of your first interview with her. Did she seem
to blame you so very much, for not answering her
mother's letter ? "

376 SOLARIS FARM.

"Oh! no! She was kindness personified. She
hastened to assure me that, in the light of subsequent
events, she came to understand the whole situation.
It appears, that after writing the letter in question,
her mother grew very much better. In this im
proved state, she lingered for some time, and did not
die until several weeks after Miss Houghton had
read to her, the notice of my mother's death, which
came to them through the columns of an occasional
New England newspaper.

"Having answered your question, Fillmore, I will
now return to the subject of my visit to the schools.
The interest manifested by both children and teachers
is something to be proud of. The amount of general
information of a practical character, which the pupils
have acquired, even in the lower classes, is quite
surprising. This is especially noticeable, in the ready
knowledge they display, regarding current political
events ; including the personal history, character
and ability, of the various political leaders. Is it
wise, to devote so much time to teaching politics;
and to commence this teaching with children so
young ? Do you really consider it so very im
portant?"

' 'Yes, George, it is a matter of the utmost impor
tance ! A republic of ignorant people, is a republic
only in name ; in reality, it is an oligarchy. On the
contrary, a true republic, is one in which all its units
or voters, are so educated, that they are familiar
with the theory and practice of government. They
must know that true government is a co-opera
tive institution, which must guard and protect with
exact justice, the interests of all of the governed.
They must know, the extent and condition of the
agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, mineral and

SOLARIS FARM. 377

lumbering resources of the country. They should
understand diplomatic, domestic and foreign re
lations. They should know every detail, of the
educational, financial and political wants of the
masses, in the domain of each State or Territory.
Finally, they must be familiar with the character,
trustworthiness and ability, of all political leaders.
Children of the co-operative farm, are educated and
trained, in a manner that will best fit them to become
true citizens of such a republic. This is why, a
practical, political education, to be successful, must
become a matter of interest to the children while
they are young. They will then learn, that a true
republic, is a co-operative machine, which cannot
run smoothly, while one imperfect cog remains to
retard the action of its wheels. This valuable lesson,
they cannot learn too soon. What think you, friend
Gaylord ? "

"I cannot quite agree with you in this matter,
Fillmore ! I think it would be far wiser, while they
are so young, to teach these children such lessons as
will give them the ground work for a sound religious
faith. Then they will understand the first impor
tance, of being prepared to save their own souls.
Later, in the closing school years, they could be
taught your progressive, political scheme, which I
think is a remarkably good one."

"Stop one moment, George ! I see Miss Hough ton
is coming. She will be delighted with an oppor
tunity to answer some of your objections, to the co
operative code of ethics, evolved by the people of
Solaris."

"You are a welcome visitor, Miss Houghton ! You
have arrived, just in the nick of time ! Our mutual
friend here, Mr. Gaylord, has been telling me of his

378 SOLARIS FARM.

visit to our schools, under your guidance. While he
praises the wonderful progress made by the pupils ;
he seems to think, that we teach too much politics
and too little religion."

11 Pardon me, Miss Hough ton ! " said George Gay-
lord, "I assure you, that I was not indulging the
spirit of fault finding ! Allow me to explain ! I had
reached a point in our discussion, where I was about
to remark, that since Adam's time, the people of the
world have been born, heirs to the dominancy of
total depravity. With this heritage, we are as prone
to sin, as are the sparks to fly upward. Under such
circumstances, it would surely be the height of folly,
to attempt to overcome this natural tendency toward
evil, without the aid of the strong arm of the church,
with its broad mantle of Christian faith and saving
grace."

"I grant you, Mr. Gaylord, that with your peculiar
training, such a conclusion would be quite natural."

"Now, Mr. Flagg ! I have a word for you ! We
must make every allowance, for Mr. Gay lord's theo
logical education. An education, that has filled his
mind with somewhat distorted meanings, for the
terms, religious faith, soul, sin, salvation, religion,
total depravity and many others of a similar import,
which theology has applied to man's spiritual welfare.
Just at present, the difference between us, is wholly
a matter of definition. When we have acquired a
true meaning for these disputed terms, we shall
stand harmoniously on a common ground. We
shall then be ready to accept the higher teachings
of the new religion. A religion of spiritual evolution
and unfoldment, which responds to the progress of
the twentieth century."

"You are quite right, Miss Hough ton ! I am very

SOLARIS FARM. 379

willing to make the generous allowance you suggest.
I think Mr. Gay lord would be glad to hear your
views, regarding the practical teachings of the new
religion."

"Thank you, Fillmore ! " said George Gaylord,
"you have voiced a request, I was about to make. I
trust Miss Houghton, will proceed at once. I will
promise to be a listener, who is both interested and
attentive. "

' * I will promise one thing, Mr. Gaylord. It is this,
before I have finished, I shall do my best, to con
vince you, that in embracing the new religion, the
people of Solaris have devoted themselves to a
system of religious teaching, which is far too broad
for the limitation of church walls. That this new
religion, is so practical, and so exacting, that its
followers, if they are true, are in duty bound to
observe it as a rule of life, seven days in the week,
year in and year out.

"As a primary basis, the new religion teaches,
that all human life is sacred. That it is the highest
expression on this planet, of an Omniscient purpose.
Conscious life, or the capacity to become conscious
of anything, is a Deific attribute. All knowledge
comes to the mind through the avenue of the senses,
or from sensations produced by contact with existing
things in the domain of Nature. The domain of
Nature, is the domain of the Omniscient ! All real
knowledge, acquired from this domain by right
methods, which is in harmony with natural evolu
tion, is Truth. Truth, then, is Divine !

"From these broad premises, we may deduce, that
to acquire knowledge, or to accumulate truth, be
comes the highest duty of life, a religious activity of
the highest order. To be engaged in the intellectual

380 SOLARIS FARM.

process of gaining knowledge, is to be engaged in a
spiritual work. The intellectual process, is a spirit
ual process. By the psychologic action of the mind,
through its sub-conscious functioning, all knowledge
coming through the senses, first becomes the spirit
ual possession of the Ego, the Soul, the seat of con
sciousness, before it can be expressed materially by
the mortal man. Hence, spiritual evolution, is a
natural growth, a crowning part of physical and in
tellectual evolution. The body, as an associated
colony of more or less intelligent cells, is an important
part of the thinking machine. Body, brain and in
tellect, in their dual existence on the material plane,
form an important trinity, which enables the Spirit
to accumulate knowledge, and also to retain that
knowledge, after the passing of the physical. To
dispute this postulate, would be manifestly absurd,
as the spiritual man is the conscious Ego, the real
gleaner and possessor of knowledge. It follows
then, that to be engaged in any kind of educational
work, is to be engaged in a religious work of great
spiritual importance. That, through proper intel
lectual training, we may obtain spiritual growth, re
build the moral character, exterminate vice, and un
fold the graces of virtue, purity, honesty and good
ness. These are spiritual attributes, which embrace
all there is in the domain of morals.

' * In appealing to the new religion, for a broader,
truer definition of the term, Soul, we learn that Soul,
as a cosmic unit of the larger cosmos, is the reposi
tory of infinite possibilities : That evolution is the
law, by which these possibilities are unfolded : That
it inherits immortality -as a birthright, from the
Great Over Soul^ the source and center of all life :
That, in fulfilling the law of life, by sojourning in

SOLARIS FARM. 381

the flesh for a brief period, it cannot be lost, or be
come totally depraved ; although the body, which is
but its earthly expression, may become so debased
by poverty, selfishness and sin, as to momentarily
thwart the Divine purpose of life.

"From the same source, and by the same au
thority, in response to a sincere desire for a better
definition of the word Sin ; we are taught, that the
object and purpose of the existence of this planet,
is the evolution and perfection of the human race.
Human life, then, is the flower and fruit of the planet.
As such, it is the direct expression of a Divine pur
pose. At the command of a higher law, this life
must at all times, be treated as sacred. „ From this
high rock of observation, we perceive that all acts,
by society or individuals, which tend to promote,
protect and purify this life, are helpful along lines
of evolution; therefore, righteous and good. In
their doing, these acts become the highest expression
of a religious duty. On the contrary, all acts, by
society or individuals, which tend to destroy, injure,
poison or sully this sacred life, or to bar its ordained
progress, are in themselves, unholy, wrong and
criminal. In commission, these acts become the
greatest of all sins. The logic of this deduction, is
beyond dispute ; because they are direct attempts to
thwart the progressive and evolutionary purpose of
the planet ; therefore, they must be considered as
sins of the first magnitude.

' ' Second in magnitude, and akin to these in wicked
ness, is the ^in of society against women. A sin so
potent for evil, that at the behest of selfishness,
greed and lust, government, church and society, with
one accord and without a protest, join in denying to
woman an existence of financial independence. This

382 SOLARIS FARM.

denial makes slaves of women, who should be noble,
pure, self-poised, self-sustaining and absolutely free.
But the acme of wickedness is reached, when this
denial reduces women to creatures of merchandise,
when every year, it drives unnumbered thousands
of them to lives of degredation and shame; thus
perpetrating the crime of the century against unborn
generations, by tainting and poisoning the fountain
of life at its very source. The new religion has de
creed, that the mothers of a perfected republic, must
of a necessity, be both pure and free. It purposes to
cure this crime, by working through the strong arms
of an ever- increasing series, of unselfish co-operative
brotherhoods, where a progressive union of agri
culture, and stirpiculture, shall provide for and pro
tect both mothers and children; at the same time
furnishing the ways and means, which offer an honor
able, useful self-sustaining existence to all woman
kind, be they wives, mothers, sisters or sweethearts.
' 'Third in magnitude and closely allied to the first
two, is the great sin of ignorance. The mother of
bigotry and superstitious fear; the father of du
plicity and craven cowardice! What we know, we
fear not. It is only the mysterious darkness of the
unknown, that is filled with terror. To abolish
ignorance, is, to make the mind master over matter.
Mind is both the spiritual and the intellectual ex
pression of the soul. True culture of the mind, is
moral culture. It is only the well grown, highly
cultured mind, that can reflect the inherent graces
of the spirit, which mark all noble characters. To
the individual, who has acquired a knowledge of the
law of evolution and environment, is given the
power to control environmental conditions ; by wrest
ing from nature the secrets of success, in feeding,

SOLARIS FARM. 383

clothing, housing, educating and elevating humanity.
It follows then, that to overcome the sin of ignorance,
is to banish poverty. To banish poverty, is to banish
want. To banish want, is to take away the very
foundations of the sin of selfishness. Selfishness,
is the father of a multitude of sins, which must
perish with it.

"From these premises we must deduce, that all
educative work in the proper sense, is a religious
activity, which makes us better acquainted with the
relations which 'exist, between man and his Creator,
the Great Over Soul. The spiritualizing influence
of this intellectual work, carries with it the compen
sation of a great reward. It crowns the gleaner,
with happiness of the purest type. As knowledge
increases, the field of knowledge expands, the flood
of happiness swells in volume. A long busy life on
the material plane of existence, is far too short to
acquire this vast treasure, which is commensurate
with the needs of progress for an eternity of spirit
ual existence, to which, this life is simply the primary
school. With a better understanding of the nature
of sin, and of the alarming extent of its evil influence
over human life; the new religion undertakes to
bless mankind, by banishing ignorance, poverty and
crime. To this practical, spiritual work, the people
of Solaris religiously devote themselves, as being a
life-work of the noblest order.

"The three principal sins which we have con
sidered, may be justly regarded as the parents of all
lesser sins. Having given a few brief suggestions
as to methods of cure, which are offered by the new
religion ; I am now ready, Mr. Gaylord, to take up
the doctrine of total depravity; which plays such an
important part in your theology.

384 SOLARIS FARM.

"As the primary step, I will re-state a prior postu
late, as follows : The spiritual man, is the conscious
Ego, the Soul, or a cosmic unit of the larger cosmos;
an indestructible part of the great life principle. As
such, it is the repository of infinite possibilities,
which are destined to be unfolded by the law of pro
gressive evolution. From the Great Over Soul, it
inherits immortality and indestructibility; therefore,
it cannot be lost, saved, or become depraved. The
mortal body is an outer covering, through which it
must express itself on the material plane of exist
ence. Physical, intellectual and spiritual life, are
subject to the law of evolution, by which they
achieve progression and fulfill the purpose of ex
istence.

"To assume, that the people of this planet, are
born subject to the dominancy of total depravity, is
to deny immortality, and the truth of these postu
lates. In denying them, it denies the existence of a
dominant principle of good, and affirms the existence
of a dominant principle of evil. It also denies all
progress, all moral reform, every noble aspiration,
every good deed, all evolution, all science and all
reason. Where then, in the economy of nature, is
there room or use for the doctrine of total depravity?
A doctrine so pernicious, that in the mouths of its
advocates, it has done more than aught else, to de
stroy the confidence of mortals, in the wisdom and
justice of the Divine plan of the universe. To even
assert its existence, is to question the existence of a
universe, under the reign of justice, law and order.
Evidently, the doctrine of total depravity, does not
belong to the domain of fact. It is equally clear,
that it must be a theological fiction. A sin of the
ology against progress, which in the dazzling white-

SOLARIS FARM. 385

ness of the spiritual light of the new religion, must
soon fade into oblivion.

1 'Can we teach politics to school children, as a part
of our religious duties ? Is a question we will now
consider. The answer, will depend largely on the
definition, which we give to the word religion. Let
us try to find a true definition, broad enough to em
brace an affirmative answer to our question. As a
basis, we have human life as the highest expression
of the planet. With the physical body, as the basis
for intellectual evolution. With intellectual evolu
tion, as the basis for spiritual evolution. Hence, we
have as a conclusion, that the spiritual development
and unfoldment of the race, up to a point where it
can accept the truth of immortality, is the logical
purpose to be accomplished by all religions. Reason
ing from these premises, it would seem clear, that
the practical value of any religion, must be measured
by its ability to teach the people how to help them
selves ; how to master the great problem of physical
life, by attaining perfection in the arts of feeding,
clothing, housing, educating and spiritualizing the
race. If, in connection with these solid foundations
for a natural religion, we add the important fact,
that this is a republic, in which the wish of the
majority, should become the law of the mass; we
shall discover that politics become the natural
channel, through which the wishes of the majority
are expressed ; that corrupt politics, result in bad
government ; that pure politics, insure good govern
ment ; that a wise, just government, is the greatest
political benefit which can be conferred on the people
governed. United, these conclusions give an affirma
tive answer to our question. They also tell us why,
the new religion, the mouth-piece of inspiration,

13

386 SOLARIS FARM.

reason, science, evolution and progress, should pro
claim it a religious duty, to teach our children,
— embryo citizens of the republic — every practical
detail of pure politics.

"What think you, Mr. Gay lord? Have your ob
jections, been satisfactorily answered ? Can we
agree to accept new definitions, for the disputed
religious terms, which we have been discussing ? "

"I am satisfied, Miss Houghton, that I have been
quite too hasty in my conclusions ! You have con
vinced me of the importance of teaching pure politics
to children, as a part of their religious training.
With regard to other religious questions, you have
answered my objections in a most masterly manner !
The practical religion, which you have so beautifully
outlined and so clearly defined, seems worthy of all
the eloquence which you have bestowed upon it.
That dreadful doctrine of total depravity, which you
have so effectually demolished, has always been a
repulsive one to me ! For years, it has been a
tormenting theological thorn in my side ! I could
never quite reconcile its existence, with the over
ruling dominion of an all- wise Creator; the very
embodiment of Infinite goodness. I may as well say
frankly, that I have often tried to find some good
reason for denying it t Now, I have found one, that
will satisfy my conscience. With the vexing doctrine
of total depravity eliminated from the religious
problem, a definition for the term, practical religion,
becomes much more simple. A new light is thrown
on the whole subject. Just at present, under the
influence of this light, I am inclined to think, that
your statements and your premises, are all true.
Granting this, I will cheerfully admit, that the people
of Solaris, are nobly living practical religious lives.

SOLARIS FARM. 387

I am very much interested in the wonderful claims
of this new religion. I trust, that after some weeks
of careful examination, I may be able to accept them
without one single reservation. After that, I venture
to promise, that we shall be able to agree on a sat
isfactory definition, for all disputed religious terms."

"Bravo! George! Now, you are talking more
like your old self, more like a reasonable man. You
are making great progress, in mastering the under
lying principles and practical work of the co-oper
ative movement ! I think, Miss Houghton, that
you ought to join in offering congratulations. Will
you not ? "

"Yes, Mr. Flagg ! I shall be glad to do so ! First,
I want to compliment Mr. Gaylord, on his excellence
as a listener ! Then again, I wish to thank him, for
his kindly summing up, of the impressions, which
came to him from my rather long sermon on prac
tical religion.

' ' Now gentlemen, you must excuse me ! I have an
engagement, which demands my immediate presence
at the kindergarten."

CHAPTER XLII.

RURAL LIFE UNDER THE REIGN OF CO-OPERATION.

"I WISH, Fillmore," said George Gaylord, "to
question your statement, as to the ability of the co
operative movement, to check the rush from country
to city life. The tide of the movement is a strong
one, that has been constantly increasing in volume,
for the past twenty years. I fear that even the pop-

388 SOLARIS FARM.

ular co-operative movement, will fail to turn the
flood."

* 'The thing is sure to be accomplished, George !
But, to understand the workings of the underlying
force, which shall make this change possible, we
must first study the units of rural society. Of course,
the financial basis of these units, must be supported
by agriculture. Agriculture is, and must continue
to be the main support of all rural populations.
Fifty years ago, agriculture as a whole, comprised a
vast collection of small farms and farmers. Then,
the small farmer and his family, as the stable unit
of suburban society, was financially and practically
independent. Questions of over-production of food
products, rise or fall in the price of exchange, panic
in the money market, or an adverse balance of trade,
disturbed them not.

"Under the spur of necessity, and as a part of the
legitimate farm work, the farmer and his family, in
a crude way, practiced many of the industrial arts,
such as leather working, harness making, boot and
shoe making, cloth making, the carding, spinning
and weaving of wool ; the preparation, spinning and
weaving of flax or linen fabrics ; the manufacture of
many farm implements, brooms, baskets, harrows,
sleds and carts ; tailoring, making all kinds of under
wear, hosiery, gloves and mittens ; linen furnishings,
for table and bed, together with many other articles
of household use. Often, the forge and the anvil,
with tools for rough iron working, were added to the
equipment of the farm. In those days, farming re
quired a knowledge of the use of tools ; the square,
the level, the plumb-bob ; the hammer, the saw and
the plane ; were as necessary to the farmer, as they
were to the carpenter.

SOLARIS FARM. 389

"If we carefully study the significance of these
things, we shall soon discover, that in reality those
farms were practically, combined agricultural and
manufacturing institutions, which were self-support
ing and self-sustaining to such an extent, that farm
people were the most independent on the face of the
globe. As such, these small farm centers were
potent factors, in swiftly advancing the permanent
wealth and civilization of rural society. Born and
trained in this practical school of life ; financially un-
shackeled, therefore politically free ; our farmers of
fifty years ago, developed a spirit of sturdy in
dependence, a patriotic devotion, a steadfastness
of purpose, a self-confidence, and a power of the
initiative, which made them the pride and the bulwark
of the nation. They were the well trained, trust
worthy citizens, of a true republic.

' ' Evolutionary progress, moves forward by waves.
The depression between the crest of the last and the
summit of the succeeding wave, represents the tran
sition, from one step of progress to the next higher.
Therefore, periods of depression, need not cause
alarm, they are in reality prophecies of progress.
Let us apply this evolutionary law to agriculture and
its people, as being in the transition stage, during
the past forty years.

" Since the beginning of the last half of the
nineteenth century, the separation between agri
culture and manufacture has been going forward,
the gulf between them becoming wider and more
absolute, with each succeeding year. Invention,
improved machinery, combinations of capital, the
sub-division of the various trades into specialties,
leaving the worker, master of none ; all have served
to develop the entire system of manufacturing in-

390 SOLARIS FARM.

dustries, to a degree out of all harmony with the
tardy progress made by agriculture. The mining
and manufacturing craze, has swallowed up all other
interests. Like a whirlwind, it has spread over the
land, drawing into the ranks of its toilers hosts of
agricultural workers ; thus swelling the army, pro
ducing manufactured articles, and correspondingly
reducing the home market for such things.

"These conditions have naturally produced a con
gested market. Logically, there has followed, peri
ods of stagnation, labor riots on account of reduced
wages, periods of enforced idleness, and panics in
the money market ; all culminating in a loud demand
for relief from the burden of over-production, by
securing control of foreign markets. So completely
has the manufacturing craze dominated the com
mercial and political economy of the republic, that
both leaders and people are blind to the real cause of
the calamity. An aggressive and progressive mi
nority begin to realize, that the laborer and the
farmer are no longer free, that they are the slaves
of capital with its factories and machines, or of rail
road combines, which control all lines of transporta
tion. But no one sufficiently understands the situa
tion, to be able to answer why.

"Now let us study the history of agriculture,
during the past forty years. This trying period of
transition, has been marked by many changes. The
small farm family, shorn of its ability to manufacture,
even in a crude way; for shoes, clothing, bedding
and table linen, must patronize factories located in
distant cities. In order to pay for these things,
much farm produce must be shipped to remote
markets. In both cases, such heavy freights, com-
nrssions and profits, are paid to lines of transporta-

SOLARIS FARM. 391

tion, middle men and handlers, that at the end of the
year, the farmer's net proceeds are reduced to zero,
or at least very close to that point. If the farmer
be in debt, he finds himself unable to pay the interest
on the indebtedness. If the farm represents much
invested capital, the net income of the farm becomes
too meagre to pay even a moderate rate of interest
on its cost value ; therefore its selling value must
shrink to the level of its reduced income. In this
way a large share of the available assets of the small
farmer, are swept away. The savings of years, are
swallowed up and lost. Savings, that in the aggre
gate, amount to many millions of dollars. What has
become of these values ? They have been absorbed
by the cities and the railroad monopolies, whose
servants the cities are.

"Four decades of this process, has robbed the
farm-center, as a unit of rural society, of its former
wealth, independence and power. Rural society as
a whole, is no stronger than its weakest unit. This
is why agricultural districts are depopulated, while
cities are over crowded. These results are the work
of the competitive system, with its wasteful, wicked
methods of distribution and exchange, which so
widely separates the farm and the factory, the
farmer and the artisan, the food and the consumer.

"From another point of view, we may discover
that inventive genius, has added a long list of labor-
saving machinery, to the equipment of the farm.
Since wheat growing, has become the leading crop,
this expensive machinery must be included in the
outfit of every successful farm. The burden of this
expense, has proved too great for the capacity of the
small farm. It has encumbered thousands of them
with an indebtedness so hopeless, that its annual

£,92 SOLARIS FARM.

interest swallows up the income of the farm. From
these causes, a crisis in the affairs of agriculture has
arisen, which has demanded larger farms, more
capital, more brain force and more systematic, better
organized, co-operative labor. Hence, the evolution of
the bonanza farm ; with which the small farm can no
longer compete. Notwithstanding its many wasteful
methods, the bonanza farm has been a step in the
right direction. It has taught our agricultural people
a valuable lesson, as to what may be accomplished
by the combined co-operation of brains, labor and
capital. It has demonstrated the necessity for the
evolution of the co-operative farm. It has prepared
the way for it.

"With the advent of the co-operative farm, will
come the beginning of a new agricultural era. The
co-operative farm village, with its well organized,
allied industries, will again unite agriculture with
manufacture. The village will represent the new
unit of rural society. This unit will be free, in
dependent and self-sustaining The occupation of
farming, will be lifted into a new realm. It will be
come the occupation of the noble, the cultured and
the progressive. The people of these farm centers,
will form the warp and woof of agricultural society,
organized as a whole. The presence of organized
society, largely adds to the value of all lands and to
the value of agricultural and manufactured products.

"The brilliant author of 'Volney's Ruins,' well
understood the force of this principle as applied to
increasing agricultural wealth, and at the same time
largely adding to the general prosperity of the State.
In an essay published in 1790, Volney lays down the
following principles : ' The force of a State is in
proportion to its population ; population is in pro-

SOLARIS FARM. 393

portion to plenty ; plenty is in proportion to tillage ;
and tillage, to personal and immediate interest, tljat
is to the spirit of property. Whence it follows, that
the nearer the cultivator approaches the passive
condition of a mercenary, the less industry and ac
tivity are to be expected from him ; and, on the other
hand, the nearer he is to the condition of a free and
entire proprietor, the more extension he gives to his
own forces, to the produce of his lands, and to the
general prosperity of the State.'

"Each co operative farm, will become a new center
of permanent wealth ; a new center of social pro
gress ; of organized labor ; of distribution and ex
change. These new centers, by again bringing
together the food and the consumer, will save millions
for themselves, which under the competitive system,
were thrown away in freights and commissions. As
these farm centers continue to increase, they may
stretch away in one unbroken chain, perhaps five
hundred miles in length. Each link in the chain,
will be a five or ten-mile boulevard. Altogether,
forming one continuous system of broad, free high
ways, the finest the world ever saw ! Aided by trains
of horseless carriages, there will be developed be
tween the centers along this highway, a new system
of transportation, distribution, commerce and ex
change. With the establishment of each new system,
the co-operative movement will gain an added impe
tus. The centers of exchange, distribution and com
merce, located in great cities, will gradually loso
their dominancy. The long lines of monopolized
railroads, connecting these cities, will as surely lose;
a large proportion of their traffic. The magnetic
wealth and bustle of the great city, will lose its
attractive power. As a consequence, and by the

394 SOLARIS FARM.

action of a natural law, the tide of wealth and pop
ulation, will flow back to the country; with its
meadows and fields, its mountains and streams, its
sunshine, blue skies, pure air and wholesome, enjoy
able village life. Amid such surroundings, upright
and just, fearless and free, the model citizen of a
true republic, may find a natural home."

1 ' Pardon me, Fillmore, for the interruption ! I
freely concede the desirability of the results, which
you have so glowingly pictured. Nevertheless, I can
not quite agree with you, about the existence of a
law, through which the tide of wealth and popula
tion will again flow towards the country. I am in
clined to think, that facts and figures are against
such a result. The statistics of the census of 1890,
indicate that about one-third of the population,
and over seventy-five per cent of the wealth of the
nation, were then located in the cities. A little later,
able thinkers and writers of the Josiah Strong type,
proclaimed, that by the middle of the twentieth
century, this would be a nation of cities, with less
than ten per cent of its wealth and population re
maining rural. As startling as these predictions are,
I very much fear, that the logic of events favor
their fulfillment ! "

"If you will give me a little more time George, I
think I shall be able to show you where these writers
erred, in reasoning from wrong premises. They
have judged the trend of events and the probable re
sults that are to follow, from the standpoint of the
competitive system. A system, which they have ac
cepted without question as a permanent one, never
to be replaced by another. This was the fatal error,
which has robbed their conclusions of all value.

"In discussing the status of our great cities, these

SOLARIS FARM. 395

writers all agree, that they are a constant menace to
the nation ; centers of political corruption, which are
in every way antagonistic to the letter and spirit of
a republican form of government ; aggregations of
the most dangerous elements of society, which are
incapable of self-government. These admissions
have a wonderful significance. Let us examine them.

"The question of society, becomes a potent factor
in the solution of this problem. Society, like a great
leviathan, covers the face of our country. Repre
senting the aggregate of life, it affects all lives. As
the social side of the body politic, it has the power
to strangle or to nourish, every interest which is
dear to those lives. Dominant society, is the sup
port and inspiration of government. The excellence
of any government, may be measured by the excel
lence of the society upon which that government is
based. Under the standard of a republic, society
may be divided into two classes ; the true and the
false. Reasoning from these premises, we may con
clude, that in order to have a true republic, we must
first evolve a true society.

"The society representing the competitive system,
has its centers or units in our great cities. Its vota
ries, are worshippers of wealth. They are importers
of foreign fashions, and foreign ideas of government.
They believe in caste. They detest equality. They
have no love and very little respect for the equal
rights guaranteed by the Constitution. They de
spise honest labor. They consider it menial, as a
badge of servitude. They believe that wealth is a
power which can raise the wealthy few to the domi-
nancy of a privileged class. They believe that as
members of this class, they can treat all other classes
as servitors and dependents, who may be hired to do

396 SOLARIS FARM.

anything for money. They view with complacency,
the crowded populations of our great cities. The
greater and more dense the mass of people, the
larger, more dependent and more obsequious the
class of servitors. They are naturally, more or less
in sympathy with monarchial and despotic institu
tions. They believe that the rulers, judges and law
makers, should come from the ranks of the privi
leged class. They are out of harmony with the re
public, because it is the true form of a co-operative
government, Co-operation, they hate, it smacks of
equality! They are devoted to the competitive sys
tem. They recognize its power to maintain a per
petual warfare among competitors, which shall for
ever keep the main host in such abject poverty, that
they willingly become slaves to the wealthy. Having
lost their independence, the votes of these competi
tors ara at the command of their financial masters.
Than this, nothing could be more harmful to the
welfare of a true republic.

"This form of urban society, is the flower of the
competitive system. The tendency of this society
is to so engender selfishness, and to so destroy patri
otism, that a multi-millionaire of the William Waldorf
Astor type, deliberately achieves the acme of shame,
by renouncing his allegiance to a country to which he
owes everything. He expatriates himself, and flies
to the refuge of a monarchy, to escape the honest
burden of a just taxation. A taxation based on an
assessment of less than one-third the rate, which is
applied to the average farmer of the republic. One
example of such ignominy, ought to teach every
patriot, that the true republic must be built on the
solid foundation of a society and industrial system,
which represents justice and equality.

SOLARIS FARM. 397

"Let us now question the co-operative movement,
with the purpose of ascertaining it~ fitness to become
the base of a new society, and also the proper foun
dation for a true republic. In a society growing out
of the co-operative system, as our rural and agricult
ural societies may now do. We find the conditions
are reversed. Labor, is the badge of respectability.
It is the title to an honorable independence. In such
a society, both men and women are free. All are co-
operators, none are servitors. No beggars ! No
caste ! The units of a co-operative society, are
sound and healthy to the core. Co-operation, in
sures self -employment. Self -employment brings
freedom, ambition, independence, self-respect, leisure
and education ; with all the comforts and refinements
of life. With these insured, the co-operator cannot
be bought or corrupted by wealth. Each co-operator
becomes a citizen, who without fear and without re
straint, may speak, write and vote, in accordance
with the highest dictates of conscience. A healthful
degree of honorable, self-sustaining labor for all, is
the key-note of this social organization. Men and
women are placed on the same plane of equality,
financially, socially and industrially. For woman,
this is a matter of the utmost importance.

"Productive co-operative labor, crowns woman
with a self -supporting, self-respecting independence,
which emphasizes her freedom from every form of
bondage. In this, we have a perfect demonstration
of the power of labor to bless humanity. Pro
gressive life and invigorating labor, go hand in hand.
One is the complement of the other. Labor as natu
rally promotes grace, strength, virtue and long life;
as idleness breeds helplessness, vice, disease and ex
tinction. Here we discover the wisdom, arid the

398 SOLARIS FARM.

universal application of nature's law of labor. This
law demands, that women who wish to become
mothers of a dominant race, and who desire to secure
perpetuity and progress for that race, must take an
active part in some useful, productive labor. If we
consider the significance of this demand, we shall
perceive, that any form of social or industrial organ
ization which denies this right to woman, or which
takes from her the opportunity, the necessity, or the
desire to labor, becomes her worst enemy, a foe to
humanity, that is conspiring to reduce her to the
degredation of a helpless dependent, a mere parasite.
In her declaration, that ' The human female parasite,
is the most deadly microbe which can make its ap
pearance on the surface of any social organism ; '
Olive Schreiner has summed up in one sentence, the
grave danger from this source which threatens the
race.

"The combined and marvelous effects of the co
operative system and society on the woman question,
rightfully places that industrial and social system
far above all others, in the choice of a secure basis
for the foundation of a true republic. In fact, George !
After carefully considering the bearings of the
questions involved, I feel sure that you will heartily
agree with me in the assertion, that co-operative
society, is the very embodiment of even handed
justice, in which the rights of all are considered.
Furthermore, you will be willing to admit, that it
teaches the value of labor, and how to discover its
uses and abuses. In eliminating its abuses, it will
appear, that true progress, is to so improve and in
crease the ease and attractiveness of all kinds of
labor, that they can no longer be classed as toil, or
even disagreeable tasks. This then, is the legitimate

SOLARIS FARM. 399

field of inventive genius. Success in this field is
assured, because it is in harmony with all laws of
progress. Every hardship, every difficulty and every
danger, which is eliminated from physical labor, in
creases in the same proportion, the opportunity and
the demand for mental labor. This demonstrates
the action of nature's law of compensation, which
in elevating the character of labor, maintains its
quantity."

"Yes Fillmore, I am convinced! I am willing to
admit the truth of the assertions, which you have
made concerning co-operative society, as the result
of the co-operative movement. No doubt, they are
destined in the near future to supersede the com
petitive system and the city society which grew out
of it. As I view the situation now, that time cannot
come too quickly! Yet, there is one point which
still puzzles me. It is in connection with the rapid
improvement of labor saving agricultural machinery,
which, as Josiah Strong says, will soon enable a few
farmers to do all the farm work, forcing all other
agriculturalists to seek employment in manufacturing
cities. How can you answer that argument, from
the co-operative standpoint ? "

"That is a pertinent question George, to which CQ-
operation can furnish many conclusive answers. Let
us consider the significance, and the conclusiveness,
of some of the following :

_ "Under the co-operative system, every new labor-
saving machine applied to agriculture, means just so
much added wealth for the farm colony. It affords
that much additional income, for active workers ; so
much more money to swell the annuity fund, for the
retired members ; so much more cash capital, for the
sinking fund, with which to purchase, and to retain

400 SOLARIS FARM.

the permanent control, of an ever-increasing series
of co-operative farms, for the lasting benefit of their
people. With co-operative genius to invent, and an
abundance of capital with which to buy, the advent
of any conceivable quantity of improved machinery
on the co-operative farm, would only serve to in
crease the wealth, leisure and independence of the
co-operators.

"Such well-conditioned people could not, under
any circumstances, be forced to leave homes of
luxury and refinement in the country, to become the
working slaves of a manufacturing syndicate in the
city. Indeed! Why should they? Why should these
co-operators, or any one with the opportunity to be
come such, go to the city to accept an insufficient and
uncertain wage ; to be compelled to pay five prices
for food, when a better and more abundant supply,
could be raised on lands of their own, with less than
one-half the exertion ? Having good homes of their
own, why should these people pay exorbitant rents
to owners of tenement houses, for the poor privilege
of living in stuffy rooms, choked with smoke and
filth, and surrounded by the clatter, the strife, the
poverty and the soul-wearing competition of the
great city.

"Why should they rob their children of health and
happiness, by depriving them of a natural birth
right, healthful exercise, free access to the pure
air, the bright sunshine, the blue sky and the un
numbered charms of country life, with its fascination
of ever changing landscape, a picturesque mingling
of verdure clad hills, green meadows, shady forests,
clear lakes and bold mountains ? Why should these
children be compelled to live a cramped, unnatural
life, confined to the narrow streets, poisoned both

SOLARIS FARM. 401

mentally and physically, by the foul air, disease,
corruption, crime and misery of the densely popu
lated city? Why should agriculturists, who are in
dependent cooperative owners of the soil, humiliate
themselves by joining the vast army of struggling
competitors, who throng the already overcrowded
labor market in our great cities ? Why should
they be eager to become the financial and political
slaves of the leaders of the competitive system ; the
social autocrats, who form the society of the 'Pour
Hundred ? ' »

"Can a Josiah Strong answer these questions?
No ! Why not ? Because, in blindly reasoning and
writing from the competitive standpoint, he has
quite overlooked the fact that agriculture is the base
-of all wealth. He has forgotten, that as a class,
agricultural people who own the farming lands of
the country, hold the key to the situation. Made
conscious of their strength by co-operation, they are
the most independent people living. They are in a
position to dictate terms to all other classes. They
cannot be forced to do anything, which they do not
wish to do. In arriving at his conclusions, it seems
quite probable that Josiah Strong has made the
serious mistake of accepting as true, a very prevalent
idea, that in due course of business, (competitive
business) all lands everywhere, would belong to the
city capitalist ; therefore, that all farmers would
then be tenants at will, who could be turned off the
land at the caprice of the owner. In this fatal
mistake, we discover the error which has vitiated all
premises from which he has been reasoning.

"Thanks to the forceful lessons, taught by Henry
George, to which our agricultural people have given
two decades of careful study. They have learned,

402 SOLARIS FARM.

that free access to land, is absolutely necessary to a
natural enjoyment of life. They have learned, that
for this reason, those who own land are musters of
those who do not. With a sturdy independence
which should characterize all citizens of a true re
public, they have an intense antipathy towards all
forms of slavery. Determined to remain free ; they
have redoubled their efforts to possess, and to retain
permanent control of lands, sufficient for themselves
and their children. In this work, they have dis
covered that co-operation leads to perfect success.

"In answering other arguments advanced to show
why the city should dominate the country, and there
fore absorb its population ; the question of rent plays
an important part. It should be studied carefully.
The law of rent, is an enigma to the poorer classes,
upon whose necks its yoke presses as a grievous
burden. They sweat and groan under the burden,
but can discover no way of escape. They must be
educated. They must know the cause, before they
can learn to avoid the effect.

"Rent, is a legal harness which enables the cap
italist who owns houses and lands, to bind needy
people to do his work. Through the exactions of
rent, he can compel these people who can least afford
to do it, to pay his taxes, his interest on capital in
vested, his living expenses, his traveling expenses,
his insurance and such wide margins of profit?, as
necessity, opportunity and favorable location, may
allow him to take. Rent values, like land values
and market values, are exponents of social organi
zation. Human lives, enter into the equation of
these values. The absence of people diminishes
these values, the presence of people increases them.
For this reason, rents are highest in great cities,

SOLARIS FARM. 403

lowest in the sparsely settled country, touching zero
on lands occupied by nomads. Land values, are
affected in the same way. This will give us a clue,
to the transitory character of wealth composed of
values. It will give us another reason, for the
shrinkage in value of farm lands, and the increased
wealth of cities ; which follows the migration of
people from country to city.

"We may now consider another important factor,
which affects rent values in great cities. It is the
spur of a sharp want, of the urgent necessity of
helplessness, which must drive and control the actions
of a large majority of the inhabitants. The presence
of these elements is necessary, in order to create the
highest markets for rents. The larger the throng
and the keener the necessities of the crowd of
bidders competing, the higher the prices they will
pay for rent. Under the reign of the competitive
system, this is a conclusive demonstration of the
truth of the saying, 'That the necessities of the
poor, are the opportunities of the rich. ' Is anything
further needed, to prove that the competitive system
is the essence of a cruel barbarism, which blots the
civilization and shames the humanity of the republic?
Why not change it for the co-operative system ?

"Under the progressive and beneficent reign of
co-operation, there would be homes for the homeless,
land for the landless, work for the unemployed and
independence for all. This would mean, a total
absence of want ; that imperative spur, which is so
necessary to the life of competition.

"Transportation and taxation, are two factors yet
unnoticed, which materially affect rent values in
great cities.

"Taking up the question of transportation; we

404 SOLARIS FARM.

soon discover its importance. The great manufac
turing city, is the center of a complete network of
railroads. The inhabitants of the city, are at the
mercy of these railroads. Nominally, they are sup
posed to be competing lines. As a matter of fact, by
means of traffic association, they become one huge,
consolidated monopoly. A monopoly so dangerous, so
powerful, so unscrupulous, and so voracious, that it
does not hesitate in fixing and maintaining rates so
exorbitant, as to be actually prohibitory, at least so
far as two-thirds of the city dwellers are concerned.
Meanwhile the monopoly arbitrarily depresses rents
and land values in the country, while it increases
them in the city.

"Let me give you an illustration of the methods,
by which these results are accomplished. Take if
you please, the case of an average city, factory-
worker ; receiving an average wage of one dollar and
fifty cents per day. On this wage, he has a family
to support. In the country, thirty miles away, he
can have a comfortable house, with a nice large
garden, for the moderate rent of five dollars per
month. A most desirable home ! But, here comes
the opportunity for the railroad ! A ten cent fare
each way, six days in the week, would pay the rail
road a handsome profit. But, a handsome profit does
not satisfy a monopoly! The handsome profit must
be doubled six times, before it will consent to serve
the public ! As a result, this workman, not having
the ready cash with which to purchase a monthly
commutation ticket, must pay to the monopoly, at
its lowest rate (two cents per mile) the gross amount
of one dollar and twenty cents per day for transpor
tation. Subtract this sum from the workman's daily
wage; there will remain the scant trifle of thirty

SOLARIS FARM. 405

cents, with which to pay bills for food, fuel, clothing,
medicine and other family expenses. Utterly im
possible ! Even if the owner of the country house
and lot, should consent to reduce its price and its
rent one-half, the workman would still be prohibited
by the railroad, from taking advantage of the re
duction. He would gladly pay the ten cent fare, for
then he would be able to pay ten dollars per month
rent, for the luxury of occupying such a desirable
country home. This would be a blessing to all in
terested parties ; still, it cannot be, because the
monopoly says no ! Being a monopoly under the
protection of the competitive system, its dictates
may not be questioned.

"Although, the case cited, may be duplicated a
thousand times, every day in the week, in every
large city of the republic ; yet, everywhere, on all
possible occasions, the common sense of the people
is outraged, and their ears offended, by the loud
shouts of the competitive leaders, who praise with
out stint the great usefulness of the monopolistic
trust. Solemn as owls, with an air of great learn
ing, they assure the people that these beneficent
trusts, are the natural outgrowth of high-grade busi
ness methods, which must be let alone. Do the poor
people, the farmers, the country land owners, and
the working men, join in these shoutings ? Obviously
and most assuredly, they do not !

* 'Let us now follow our factory workman back to the
city, for the purpose of noting the effect of this mo
nopolized transportation, on city rents. Baffled in
his desire to live in the country, he seeks to make
the best of a bad situation. As a consequence, he is
obliged to pay to the owner of some tenement house,
a rental of fifteen dollars per month for thiee small

406 SOLARIS FARM.

rooms ; poorly ventilated, unfurnished and unheated.
These rooms are so undesirable on account of difficult
access, bad location, unsavory smells, and the im
mediate presence of other tenants in the house, who
are quarrelsome, drunken, filthy and generally dis
reputable ; that but for the prohibitory tariff main
tained by the railroads they would remain unoccupied,
even if the rent should be reduced to seven dollars
and fifty cents per month. However, poor workmen
receiving scant wages, may not expect to be choosers.
They with their wives and children, must ever
bravely strive to adjust themselves to their environ
ments, which more often than otherwise, prove
cruelly bitter and oppressive.

"In the case of our artisan, who is a brave, in
dustrious, hopeful fellow ; after paying his rent, he
will have left from his monthly wages, the small sum
of twenty-one dollars. Providing of course, that
throughout the month, he has been so fortunate as
to remain well and to lose no time. With this
amount, (seventy cents per day) he must manage as
best he can, under such adverse circumstances, to
feed, warm, clothe, shoe, and protect his family. With
such a meagre sum to supply so many wants, it is
impossible for him, even under the most favorable
circumstances, to make petty savings with which to
meet emergencies. When the misfortune of sickness
overtakes him, the situation becomes appalling !

"From this illustration, we may judge how much
the city is indebted to the railroad monopoly for its
high rents. To great cities, high rent is a matter
of the utmost importance. Take all rent advantages
from them, and the entire list of their manufacturing
industries, could be carried on in country villages
with equal profit. It is quite evident then, that

SOLARIS FARM. 407

these cities are alive to the fact that rent is a
measure of the value of locations."

"Before going farther, Fillmore, allow me to in
quire ! Why could not these working men and their
families, who are confined to the city by the high
rates of the railroad monopoly, find cheap country
homes near the city; say within a radius of from five
to ten miles ? "

" Thank you George, for such an opportune
question ! Its answer leads directly to a discussion
of the question of taxation.

"A land monopoly, is more to be feared, more
harmful to the poor and more disastrous to the
interests of the general public, than any other kind.
The worst form of land monopoly, may be found in
full force, along the outskirts of large cities. These
monopolies are made possible, by the unjust appli
cation of a faulty system of taxation.

"As a preliminary step, a hungry host of individual
capitalists and land syndicates, proceed to purchase
large tracts of adjacent lands at farm prices. These
lands are then sub-divided into villa sites, and into
a variety of sizes of town lots. Prices are placed on
these lots, which would about equal the value of the
ground, when in course of time, at the edge of the
city, they should be covered by dwellings or business
houses. This accomplished, the holders like cormo
rants, sit and wait for the growth of the city and the
efforts and capital of other people, to so increase the
value of their holdings, that they can realize their
prices and take their profits. These periods of
waiting, may cover a long time, often, from one to
twenty years. Meanwhile, these monopolized lands
arc kept out of use, because on account of high
price, they cannot be used for agricultural purposes.

408 SOLARIS FARM.

"Why can these land monopolists afford to wait
so long ? Because an inequitable system of taxation,
discriminates in their favor ; offering aid and en
couragement for them to do so. Without this aid, it
would be impossible to keep these lands out of use.

"How can this happen? In the first place, these
sub-divided lands, as a whole in large tracts, are
assessed at the rural rates applied to unused and
unoccupied lands. These assessed values, may be
so low, as to be less than one per cent of the asking
price of the lots. As time passes, they are liable to
be slowly increased. Under such a discriminating
system of assessment, the taxes that may be col
lected, are merely nominal. This unequal system
of taxation, is applied, in a proportionate degree, to
all unoccupied lands inside the city limits, which are
held out of use by the land speculators.

"How does this state of affairs affect city rents,
and at the same time, assist in preventing the poorer
classes from enjoying the advantage of country
homes ? First, it establishes a broad zone of mo
nopolized land around the city. This zone continues
to increase in width with the growth of the city.
Scattered through this zone, are many tracts of
farming lands in active use. For this reason, they
have to bear an extra burden of taxes, in order to
equalize the low rates on such large tracts of idle
land. These heavy taxes are patiently borne by the
resident farmers, with the hope of reimbursement in
the near future, by being able to sell their farms for
extraordinary prices. In this way, abnormal prices
become firmly established throughout the zone;
which like some great barrier most effectively con
fines the working man and his family, to the narrow
limits of a city tenement, with its high rents.

SOLARIS FARM. 409

"If a builder with some idle capital, should wish
to erect a considerable number of modest cottages,
within the limits of this monopolized zone ; with the
purpose of renting them to working men ; he would
find it impossible, or at least impractible to do so.
Why? Because he would have to pay almost city
prices for the ground ; then, having covered the lots
with houses, he would be obliged to pay a heavy
penalty for this outlay of capital, by the grievous
burden of taxation, which would fall upon him.
Houses built under these circumstances, could not be
let at a rent low enough to be within the means of
the working man.

"The number of people who are confined to city
life by the causes named, is very large Just how
large, I have no means of ascertaining. Families,
who are subsisting on incomes of ten dollars per
week and less, furnish a large proportion of this
number.

"We have seen that the disastrous crowding,
the alarming density of our large city populations,
is mainly due to two causes. High transportation,
caused by the railroad combine ; and an outrageous
land monopoly, made possible by a bad system of
taxation. We have seen, that this dense mass of
needy humanity, constantly creates such a fierce
competition, that rents must grow higher and wages
must grow lower. We have seen, that the causes
named, are steadily diminishing the wealth of rural
sections, by transferring it to the great city. We
have seen that this whole movement, which tends to
transform the great majority of the independent
citizens of a republic, into the financial slaves of an
oligarchy, is the natural outgrowth of the com
petitive system. Tavght by history, we know, that

410 SOLARIS FARM.

as the oligarchy rises and reigns, the republic dies.

"Knowing the causes which have produced these
conditions, we are prepared to discover, and to
apply the most efficient remedies. It is only by
associated effort, that rural populations can success
fully oppose the concentration of wealth in cities.
The well organized mass, becomes a great power.
The new century demands a new industrial organi
zation. The co-operative system, answers the de
mand. It is in harmony with the idea, that life is
the most precious of all things. Therefore, it recog
nizes that opportunity to labor, and to enjoy the
fruits of that labor, is the highest privilege of life.
Under the reign of co-operation, this is insured.
United in congenial co-operative associations, farm
ing and working people in the country, reinforced
by large numbers of recruits from cities, may build
up for themselves, new centers of combined in
dustries, society, wealth, distribution, exchange, edu
cation, amusement and insurance ; which will place
them in the ranks of the self-employed, who are
financially and politically free. By growth and ex
pansion, these centers will become the units of a
vast co-operative system, which must soon wholly
displace the competitive. ;

"The inspiring motive of this co-operative system,
will be the elevation and perfection of human lives.
To this end will tend the invention of every labor-
saving machine ; increasing the product and shorten
ing the hours of labor. With the physical man thus
properly nourished and developed ; the intellectual
and spiritual man, will for the first time in history,
have the necessary conditions in which to expand,
blossom and bear fruit. , Under such circumstances,
life in the country will be both altruistic and ideal-

SOLARIS FARM. 411

istic. By comparison, life in cities will become a
hardship which few will care to choose. The few,
it may be taken for granted, will be so bound to the
wheels of Mammon that they cannot get away.

"The larger independence and better education of
the co-operative majority of voters, will soon enable
them to find a relief for the imprisoned populations
of cities, which are now confined by the pressure of
land monopolies and railroad combines. They will
see to it, that these railroads become the property
of the government; well knowing that they can
never be made to serve the public honestly, until
the public owns them. As for the land monopolists,
they will find their holdings so burdened with taxes,
that they can no longer keep them out of use. The
erection of fine buildings will be encouraged. Costly
mansions, dwellings, or factories, will not increase
the tax. With these barriers removed, the densely
packed populations will quickly expand. They will
fly from center to circumference of the city. Later,
they will be attracted to the country village, where
more congenial homes and employments await them.
Then educated and emancipated, they will no longer
pay rent.

"We have seen that the economics of society
vitally affect the status of human lives ; physically,
morally and spiritually; industrially, financially and
politically.

"We have seen, that rural society, based on the
co-operative farm colony as a unit ; answers every
demand for the protection and development of human
life. We have seen that the inspiration of this
society, is to secure for all, a lasting reign of peace,
plenty, harmony and progress ; a most convincing
proof, that it is the ideal society on which to build a

412 SOLARIS FARM.

true republic, that shall be self-sustaining.

' 'We have seen that the perfect emancipation of
woman, and the exalted motherhood, which is made
possible by the advantages of the co-operative sys
tem, insures the permanency and the dominancy of
a republic so supported.

4 ' In analyzing the workings of the competitive sys
tem, we have seen that its methods are those of war.
In the never-ending struggle of competing strife,
opposing armies of human beings slowly grind each
other to death ; leaving unaccomplished the real
object and purpose of life. This enormous waste of
life, violates every principle of a republican form of
government. It aborts even the efforts of planetary
evolution.

"We have seen that the competitive system pro
duces monopolies and trusts, with a constantly in
creasing tendency to concentrate wealth in cities;
placing it in the hands of the few, who are the
financial masters of the many.

"We have seen that from the ranks of the wealthy
few, come the leaders of competitive society, who
make their strong holds in the great city. They are
the shining lights of the competitive system. They
believe in a constant warfare of competition, which
brings suffering to the many and success to the few.
We have seen that a surfeit of wealth and power,
has made these leaders so despicably selfish and
unpatriotic, that they are unwilling to pay a just
proportion of tax for support of the government.

"We have seen that the monopolist, encouraged by
the sympathy of competitive society, endeavors to mo
nopolize administrative and executive functions. By
means of unequal rates of taxation, and more especi
ally of unjust assessments, he is able to shift most

SOLARIS FARM. 413

of his taxes to the shoulders of farmers and small
property holders in state, county and town. This
outrageous evasion by the rich, of their just share
of the burdens of government, is shameful to the
last degree ! It robs the poor of all protection, that
governments are bound to offer ! It is a crime
against humanity ! It is a sin against the perpetuity
of the republic ! It is anarchy ! If a government is
no longer able to protect its poor; then, such a
government has forfeited all right to exist !

1 'We have seen that a true government, republican
in form, is a co-operat;ve institution, which must be
based on justice, and equal rights, for all ; thus
recognizing the common brotherhood of humanity.
Organized and maintained for the purpose of con
serving, developing and protecting life; such a
government, would at all times be guided by the
beacon light of the axiom, ' That the injury of one
is the concern of all.' It would wisely measure its
strength and perfection as a government, by the
strength and perfection of its weakest unit.

"We have seen that with members of competitive
society, the accumulation of wealth, becomes the
sole ambition of life ; that they may enjoy the ease,
luxury and social power which follows. We have
seen that wealth develops selfishness and idleness.
Idleness breeds helplessness, vice, disease, and ex
tinction. The predominance of such a society, would
mean the death of the republic.

"Having compared the merits and demerits of the
two industrial systems, and of their closely related
societies ; taking it for granted, that as the highest
expression of social evolution, the republic must
endure ; which, George, do you think will prove the
true system, the true society, that must predominate;

414 SOLARIS FARM.

that must naturally develop most social and political
power; most perfect conditions of life; most hap
piness ? "

"There can be but one answer, Fillmore ! The co
operative is the true system, and the true society!
You have made it very plain that the republic cannot
endure without them. It is equally evident, that
with restraining influences removed, city populations
in a large measure, will again return to the country
for homes ; attracted thither by the many advantages
offered by co-operative village life."

"Speaking of homes, George, reminds me that I
must now confer with you in regard to a personal
matter, which may affect your work and your welfare
for many years. This is the fifteenth of September.
You have now been in Solaris, a little over one month,
with an opportunity to study the co-operative move
ment quite extensively. I believe you are in harmony
with it ; and can do a good work for it.

"This office, as you know, is the present head
quarters of the general movement. Tomorrow I am
going East, to be absent at least one month, perhaps
three. I wish you, as my private secretary, to at
once take charge of the office. I can offer you a
salary of $1,500 for the first year. The office staff
is a capable one, which will make your work quite
light. I have made arrangements with Mr. snd Mrs.
Gerrish and with Miss Houghton, to co-operate with
you as advisers. Since the first establishment of
the office, Miss Houghton has so often volunteered
to assist me, that she is now familiar with the
routine work. Finally, I shall at all times while away,
be within reach by phone or wire ; by which I wish
you to consult me whenever occasion may demand.
What say you, George ! Can you accept my proposal ? "

SOLARIS FARM. 415

"Yes, Fillmore, I accept without one moment's
hesitation ! I shall be delighted with the oppor
tunity to work for the interests of co-operation.
You may trust me to do my best !

"By the way, Fillmore! I take it for granted,
that before you return you will meet Miss Fenwick,
and her Iriend Mrs. Bainbridge, if so, please present
my regards."

"I shall not forget your message, friend Gaylord !
Miss Fenwick is now at Fairy-Fern-Cottage, on the
Hudson. She will meet me at Fenwick Hall, in
Washington, where we are to be married on the
twentieth day of this month.

"The wedding is to be strictly private and in
formal, only Miss Fenwick's attorneys are to be
present as the necessary witnesses. After the wed
ding, the customary tour will be omitted ; leaving
us free to remain at Fenwick Hall, until the in
spiration of the moment brings the choice of some
mountain or sea-side resort.

"I shall expect you, George, to mail weekly re
ports from the office, to Fenwick Hall. Wire me
for instructions, whenever you are in doubt."

"I shall obey your wishes to the letter, Fill-
more ! What you tell me of tfie coming wedding, is
glorious news ! I congratulate you with all my
heart, on your great good fortune ! You deserve it ;
you have well earned it ! "

416 SOLARIS FARM.

CHAPTER XLIII.

A TWENTIETH CENTURY HONEYMOON.

AT FENWICK HALL, in the early twilight of their
wedding day, we find our hero and heroine, the bride
and groom, now husband and wife. They are sitting
side by side, hand in hand, looking forth from the
large southern window of that magnificent tower
room, hitherto known as the private retreat of Fern
Fenwick. The outlook from that window was a
revelation of beauty, as perfect as a dream of fairy
land.

As the twilight deepened, high in the southern
sky, the full-orbed splendor of a September moon,
glorified with its soft radiance, the marked beauty
of the Capital City — the Pearl City of the republic.
From the mysterious depths of stilly night, inten
sifying the soothing charm of moonlight ; there came
softly stealing through the open window, the balmy
airs of evening, laden with the fragrant breath of a
thousand flowers. From the Aqueduct Bridge to
Fort Foote, a long line, of brilliant light, with many
a graceful curve, marked the pathway of the broad
Potomac, whose unruffled bosom shone like a mirror
of burnished silver. Stretching across the valley
from distant heights, a fleecy veil of enchantment
woven in the loom of mist, etherealized city and
river, dome and monument, tower and steeple, cottage
and castle ; adding a weird beauty to the magnificent
array of public buildings, which owned the Capitol
and the Library as chief. Above and beyond all
else in its unapproachable glory, the Dome of the
Capitol in the mellow, hazy moonlight, shone re-

SOLARIS FARM. 417

splendent as a matchless crown to the architecture
of the Occident ! •

Responsive to the spell woven by the fairy fingers
of moonlight, in which soul and sense sink to the
spiritual repose of that serene calm, where in silance,
happiness of the purest type best expresses Itself ;
these newly wedded lovers, living in the inner world,
lost to the outer, remained motionless and absorbed
in the ecstasy of contemplation.

Pern was the first to break the silence. She said :
"My dear Fillmore ! Tell me, is this the beginning
of some reign of enchantment ? The culmination o^f
love's dream ? Are we waking or dreaming ? Can
it be possible, that this glorious moonlight, so au
spiciously ushering in our honeymoon, is typical and
indicative of its endurance, of its unalloyed bright
ness ? "

"My wife ! Chosen one of all women ! Your de
voted lover for six years ; having passed the stage
of love at first sight, hopeless love, worshiping love
from afar, patient love, love requited and love re
warded ; I am now so happy, so unspeakably optim
istic, that I accept without question the happy
augury of enchanted moonlight, as being truly pro
phetic. Besides, having a wife so noble, so good
and so wise, to make it possible; how could our
honeymoon be other than the most delightful ever
known to the history of love? You may trust me,
dear heart, to do my best towards making that
prophecy come true ! "

"In discussing honeymoons, even my own; I may
not be permitted to trust, in what is given to me to
know. As a maiden of twenty-six summers, now
your wife ; I know very well that a husband who is
just, loving, noble and true, is the most important
14

418 SOLARIS FARM.

of all factors, in securing the perfection of the ideal
honeymoon. That six-year ordeal of loyal, patient
love, which you have so thoughtfully analyzed and
classified, has made you very dear to me ! In over
coming this ordeal so victoriously, you have dis
played a strength of character which has commanded
my admiration. You have been unselfish, cour
ageous, persistent of purpose, trustful, thoughtfully
sagacious, perfectly trustworthy, and strictly honor
able. For these characteristics, so like those pos
sessed by my father ; I love you more than for all
else. Since crowned with conscious life, my father
has been to me, the standard of an ideal man ! If
ever a daughter worshipped a father; I was that
daughter. In character, you, of all the men I have
met, are the nearest like him. Stronger words
of praise than these, the lips of a proud, loving wife,
could not utter ! Now Fillmore ! My dear husband !
I am going to kiss you, as an antidote ; lest the
fervor of my speech, should make you vain, just a
little ! "

"The antidote seems to work like a charm ! Yet,
a speech so full of such crushing praise, coming from
the lips of the loveliest and most thoughtful of
wives, is very provocative to vanity. It makes my
case so desperate, that it really requires heroic
treatment. To make the antidote effective, I should
say, increase the quantity of the dose • administer
very frequently !

"But seriously, my dear wife ! I am overwhelmed
by the tribute of praise, which you have paid to my
character ! To me, the character of Fennimore Fen-
wick, is nobleness personified ! To have my own
continually compared with one so exalted, is a very
trying ordeal. I tremble for the consequences ! I

SOLARIS FARM. 419

am now so happy, that in the very selfishness of my
love for you, I may shatter your ideal. To dis
appoint you ; would be to forfeit my paradise ! In
times of trial, I shall appeal to you as the noblest
and best of wives, to use your highest gifts of
occult power to assist me in retaining your respect,
admiration and love. Meanwhile, my dear wife ! I
shall cherish in my heart, the memory of your
tribute, as a talisman, as a perpetual inspiration to
live up to my highest ideal ! Whatever happens,
I shall be myself."

"That, Fillmore, has the true ring of your natural
nobility ! Be yourself, and we shall be lovers forever !
With that question settled ; under the inspiration of
this lovely moon, let us commence the construction
of our castles in the air. In marrying a woman with
a great fortune, you have pledged yourself to share
equally with her, the pleasures, cares and responsi
bilities of her riches. Remembering, that hence
forth, we are joint trustees, under my father's di
rection, for the wise use and distribution of this
wealth. It becomes our duty to make competent and
well-considered plans for the work. What say you,
my dear husband ! Shall we not do well, if we de
vote a generous share of our honeymoon to the
making, development and perfection of these plans? '>

"What you propose, my dear Fern, will make me
very happy ! I shall be delighted with the oppor
tunity to relieve you of a portion of the burden of
your responsibilities, by sharing them. How, and
when shall we commence the plan making ? "

"Before undertaking the plans, it will be necessary
for us to ascertain just how much we are worth,
financially speaking. For this purpose, we must
make a complete and carefully classified inventory

420 SOLARIS FARM.

of our properties, both real and personal. This im
portant task, we will take up tomorrow, working
deliberately until it is finished. It is quite likely to
prove a long one, bristling with interesting data,
suggestive and educative, as to the extent of your
newly assumed responsibilities.

"After the inventory is complete, we will each in
favor of the other, make and execute a will, convey
ing the property described by the inventory. Then,
we shall be prepared for the accidents, emergencies
and unexpected changes of a mortal existence.

"Having disposed of the wills, we will return to
the inventory. Going over it without haste, item by
item. While considering each one, I will give its
history ; then, we will make a short note, embodying
our individual ideas as to the best present or future
disposition of that particular piece of property.
These notes to be attached to the inventory. By
the time we have finished this work, you will have
acquired such a firm mental grasp of our financial
situation, that you can advise me wisely, or act alone,
as the occasion may demand."

' ' Pardon me, sweetheart ! What of our coming
conference with your father, Fennimore Fenwick?
Is that to be postponed until we have finished the
preliminary work, which you have outlined ? "

"Yes, my lover ! I would not have you take part
in the consultation, without first being equipped with
this important knowledge. Besides, it was so under
stood, by father and myself, when we arranged to
have the conference take place on the afternoon of
the fifth day after the wedding. There will be plenty
of time. You are perfectly satisfied with the arrange
ment, are you not ? "

* * More than satisfied, my good angel ! I can

SOLARIS FARM. 421

hardly realize my good fortune ! I am eager to
begin the work. What a delightful time we shall
have ! To have you introduce me to our wealth, by
the way of this unique, honeymoon program; is
something very like a fairy story ! I could not de
vise or imagine anything more delightful !

"Six years ago, at the time of our meeting, I was
hopeful and ambitious. My heart was filled with an
earnest longing for the fulfillment of my one great
purpose in life. But, how to accomplish that pur
pose, was hidden from me by the veil of the future.
Then, I never dreamed that waiting behind the veil,
love was the goddess of good fortune, who was to
guide me to success ! It is the unexpected which
always happens ! Thinking not of self ; destiny
smiled on my unselfishness, and kindly led me to my
fate ! Having met you, I dared to love ! Discovering
that you cherished a purpose in life like my own, I
dared to hope ! Trusting to love, as the messenger
of destiny ; in the unalloyed happiness of this glori
ous honeymoon, I have reached the goal of all my
ambitious hopes ! When I reflect on the magical
change of my environments, and the new career in
life which has opened for me ; I can appreciate the full
significance of the miracle which love has wrought !

" Knowing the importance of unselfishness on the
part of the individual, as a necessary factor in the
successful co-operation of the multitude ; I perceive
that selfishness must be overcome by a compre
hensive system of education, organized for that par
ticular purpose. The organization of such a system
must be accomplished by a small number of enthusi
asts, who are willing to devote their lives to it.
This means, that they must be people of wealth and
leisure,

422 SOLARIS FARM.

"As an evidence of appreciation of responsibility,
for my stewardship of the wealth which you have
bestowed upon me; I wish now to declare my purpose.
It is, to devote the remainder of my life to this edu
cational work. It now comes to me, that this is the
work described for us, in your letter, written to me
over thirty months ago ; where, in a vision of the
future, you saw us united, side by side, hand in hand,
fighting successfully against the poverty breeding
hosts of selfishness. From the innermost depths of
my being, I rejoice over this most fortunate oppor
tunity, which permits me to take an active part in
such an important work ! My heart swells with
pride and happiness, when I feel and know that I am
to have the honor of standing by your side, in the
fore- front of the fight !

"I can now appreciate the utility of my long
apprenticeship on the co-operative farm. In no other
way, could I have been so well prepared for leader
ship in the educational movement. I have learned
just what agricultural people need to make them
perfect citizens of a perfected republic. A republic
of peace, without a police ; without the burden of a
standing army, to menace and oppress its citizens, be
cause they are already a law unto themselves, at peace
with all the world. When I analyze the influences
which have inspired and led me, throughout this ex
traordinary course of training ; I recognize the action
of a dominant, guiding mind ; the far-seeing wisdom
of my noble friend and benefactor, Fennimore Fen-
wick. To him, and to the spirit world, I shall ever
be profoundly grateful ! Is it not a most beautiful
illustration, of the power of spirits to co-operate with
mortals ? "

"Very true and rightly spoken, my prince of

SOLARIS FARM. 423

husbands ! I too, am glad, that during the six years
of your preparatory training, destiny's messenger
— love — has guided you so wisely. With your intui
tive nature, I am not surprised that you have divined
so clearly, the general scope of the life work, which
my father has planned for us. At the coming con
ference, he is to unfold the details of the work. Let
us well employ the intervening time, in doing the
preliminary work ; which, as you have so well said,
will give us an added relish for the enjoyment of our
delightful honeymoon."

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE NEW CRUSADE.

THE BEAUTIFUL, seance room at Fenwick Hall,
was known to the chosen few, as the ' 'Tower of the
Psychics." In fittings, furniture, and equipment, it
was much the same as the square room in the central
tower at Fairy Fern Cottage. From the beginning,
this room had been devoted to but one purpose ; that
of an audience chamber for the intercommunion of
the Two Worlds, the spirit and the mortal. Every
visiting mortal felt the presence of a refined spiritual
atmosphere, a highly charged, electrostatic potential,
which made possible superior spiritual conditions.
In this room, Fennimore Fenwick was at home, to
the chosen few of his friends on the mortal plane of
existence. On the afternoon of the conference, we
find our hero and heroine in this room, awaiting the
coming of Fennimore Fenwick.

While Fillmore was admiring the full length, life

424 SOLARIS FARM.

size painting of his spiritual friend and benefactor,
which hung on the wall opposite the entrance to the
room; the familiar voice of the original, through
the trumpet very near, gave him a cordial greeting.

" Bless you, my son ! How glad I am, to welcome
you to Fenwick Hall, as its new master ! May your
reign here as such, prove long and prosperous ! In
the enthusiasm of my fatherly pride, allow me to
congratulate you on your rare good fortune, in win
ning the hand and heart of my daughter, Fern. She
is a pearl above price! Ever love her devotedly r
my boy ! Cherish her tenderly, as the brightest
jewel in your crown of life ! "

' 'Thank you, Mr. Fenwick ! For your affectionate
and kindly words of welcome ! To me, they are more
gracious, more inspiring and more delightful, than
words can express ! They have so taken me by sur
prise, that I am overwhelmed by the strong tide of
emotions welling up from my grateful heart ! As to
your commands in relation to my precious wife ; you
may trust me ! Waking or sleeping, I shall never
forget them ! They are burned into my heart, by
the intensity of my love for her, by the force of my
lasting esteem and admiration for you ! How can I
ever properly thank you, my noble benefactor, for
your great goodness to me ; for your supreme con
fidence in my integrity ? In return, I can only ask
you to accept my pledge, to ever strive to merit that
confidence ! "

c ' Do not thank me, my son ! Thank Love ! Desti
ny's messenger ; who, as a reward for your unselfish
ness, has kindly led you to the goal of your present
happiness ! "

"And you, my beloved daughter! Are you quite
happy ! May I also congratulate you, on having so

SOLARIS FARM. 425

wisely chosen a husband, who is in every way
worthy ? Do you remember the promise I made to
you, on the night of my transition ? A promise to
bring to your side, a friend, a counselor, a protector,
whose wisdom and integrity, should at all times,
prove sufficient for the needs of the hour. Are you
satisfied, my dear girl ? Have I faithfully kept my
promise ? "

"Yes, father ! I am more tnan satisfied ! I am a
contented woman, I am very happy ! The quiet de
licious calm of my happiness, is a new experience for
me. Heretofore, I had supposed that happy women
must be vivacious and voluble, from the very effer
vescence of their happiness. Now I know that it is
not so. Your characteristic words of praise, for the
one I have chosen as a husband, have made me very
proud of him and deeply grateful to you ! In him, I
have found the promised friend, counselor and pro
tector ; also, an ideal lover. But, my dearest, kindest,
best of fathers ; you know very well, that to trust
you implicitly, is a law of my life ! I have always
trusted you ! Therefore, I am not disappointed ;
neither am I very much surprised. I am just per
fectly happy. That is the whole story in a nutshell ! "

"This is as it should be, my children! When I
first saw you, Fillmore, I felt intuitively, that you
and Fern were made for each other. I knew I could
trust you together, to finish my work. Now, I re
joice, that my intuitions were so prophetic !

"In your work at Solaris Farm, Fillmore, you
have succeeded beyond my most sanguine hopes. I
congratulate you heartily, my son, on this initial
success for the co-operative movement ! This is
but the beginning of the work. As we go farther,
wider fields are opened for more extended efforts.

426 SOLARIS FARM.

You have already correctly surmised, that selfishness
in humanity has become so dominant, so crystallized,
from long centuries under the heartless reign of
competition, that only a far-reaching, well organ
ized, especially designed scheme of education, can
conquer the evil. By means of this educational pro
gram, we shall be able to open the eyes of both poor
and rich, to the benefits of co-operation.

, "It has been wisely and truthfully said, that:
'The destruction of the poor, is their poverty. That
conversely, the poverty of the poor, is the real
power of the rich. ' In these two short sentences,
we have the most scathing indictment against present
social and industrial conditions, that could be made!
These conditions are wickedly abnormal ! They are
entirely out of harmony with the law of progress,
and of planetary evolution! To change them for
something better, is the crying need of the hour !

' ' It were a mercy to both rich and poor alike, to
make them financially independent of each other !
Then, freed from the thraldom of selfishness, they
could discover and appreciate, each for themselves,
the true object and purpose of human life. For this
reason, our new educational movement, must be so
arranged, that it may successfully appeal to all
classes.

"For the industrial classes, the agriculturalists
and the artisans, we can use the co-operative farm
movement as a basis of education. As for the
wealthy remainder, they must first be taught to re
spect the sacredness and the true purpose of human
life, before they can contemplate any form of social
or co-operative progress, with feelings other than
contempt, or at least angry opposition. This is to
be expected. It is the natural outgrowth of the

SOLARIS FARM. 427

teachings of a society, which is controlled by the
hierarchy of competition. Both the co-operative
farm and the broader educational movement, are to
be embraced by the work of the New Crusade.

"The New Crusade, is to be organized, promoted
and maintained, for the peaceful conquest of poverty;
and the consequent banishment of ignorance and
crime. These grand purposes, shall be emblazoned
on its banners, appealing to the chivalry and knight
hood of the republic for support. Never before has
the bugle of the crusader, blown the assembly call
for so noble a cause ! Victory for this glorious
cause, means a recognition of the true nobility of
labor : The establishment of peace on earth, and
happiness for all : An abundant harvest, for all pro
ductive toil : The sacredness and divine significance
of life : The brotherhood of humanity : And the soli
darity of all social interests. To the victors, shall
come the well earned plaudits of a thousand future
generations ; whose sons and daughters shall chant
the story of the unparalleled chivalry of such noble,
unselfish deeds !

"To you, my children, is assigned the task and the
honor of inaugurating this peaceful campaign. From
you, it will demand extraordinary activity, courage
and administrative ability ; reinforced by large sums
of money. Fortunately, the Fenwick fortune is
ample. Use it without stint. Fenwick Hall, is
roomy and well fitted for the headquarters of the
New Crusade ; and for the housing of its organizing
staff ; which, from the magnitude of the work, will
be a large one. A bureau of literature must be
formed, A newspaper and a magazine, devoted to
the cause of the Crusade, must be published. They
must be the best of their kind. The editorial talent

428 SOLARIS FARM.

must be of the highest order, the ablest in the land.
Every State in the Republic, must be made a depart
ment of the Crusade. A select army corps of teachers,
organizers and leaders, must be assembled, trained
and thoroughly prepared, to take charge of these
departments. They will be the executive and re
cruiting officers of the Crusade ; rendering weekly
reports to the headquarters in Washington. Every
co-operative farm, will become an outpost and a re
cruiting station ; every State, a grand encampment.
"In recruiting crusaders from the ranks of the
wealthy, a special effort should be made, to have
them take up the cause as a fashionable fad. They
can be diplomatically led, where they cannot be
coaxed or driven. In the face of any opposition they
may display, it must ever be borne in mind, that the
hearts of nine-tenths of the wealthy, are good and
true. Their natural promptings are to do right ; to
use their riches for the advancement of science, and
for the cause of humanity. They would do better,
if they only knew how. They must be educated. The
competitive system, under which they were born,
trained and made rich, is at fault. By it, they have
been taught, that poverty is a necessary and per
manent state; to which, a large majority of the
people of the earth, are assigned by the action of a
divine law. Therefore, any attempt to banish pover
ty would be not only useless, but actually sinful.
Nevertheless, prompted by a higher law, many of
them annually dispense large sums in charity. Under
the competitive system, charity only aggravates the
malady. It is money thrown away ! As the recip
ients are thus enabled to work for less wages ; in
creasing the gains of competitive masters; and final
ly, swelling the ranks of the helpless poor. After a

SOLARIS FARM. 429

few trials, even the most persistent alms-giver soon
discovers, that as an antidote to poverty, charity is
a wretched faUure. Taking it for granted, that the
competitive system is a permanent one which is to
endure forever, he gives up the problem as hopeless.

"It is to be the business of the New Crusade, to
show why the co-operative should be substituted for
the competitive system. It must teach the wealthy
classes, the vast importance of the great lesson
taught at Solaris. Namely, that by organized, un
selfish co-operation ; independent self-employment,
producing an abundance for all, may be speedily
and practicably substituted for every form of poverty.
The Crusade must demonstrate, that ignorance,
poverty and crime, are handmaidens, which cannot
exist apart. That if one-half the money expended
for charity during the past fifty years, had been
used to promote co-operative self -employment, pover
ty, tramps and ignorance, would now be things of
the past.

"To the people of the republic at large, must be
taught the significance of the contrast between the
war-like competitive system, and the peaceful meth
ods of a co-operative association. Co-operation,
makes combined individual effort, equal to the wealth
of independence. The co-operator, being self-em
ployed, no longer strives to displace a fellow work
man by offering service at a lower price.

' 'Competition, emphasizes the poverty and help
lessness of the individual, because it sets every man
against his neighbor, against the whole world. The
competitor deliberately shuts himself away from all
gain that might come to him from the force and
effectiveness of associated effort. He loses all faith
in mankind ; in honesty and justice. He views the

430 SOLARIS FARM.

good fortune of a fellow toiler, as a personal injury,
which he ought to resent. In fact, he becomes too
selfish to even be patriotic I

"The quickest way to convince the people of the
barbarism, the cruelty, and the wickedness of such
a system, is to establish a co-operative farm in every
available township throughout the land. The free,
healthy, trained, and well-educated social communi
ties, growing up on these farms, will become the
units of a true society ; the underlying foundation,
on which to build the true republic.

"Society dominates the political expression of
nations. It molds and controls public opinion, busi
ness methods and commercial usage. Under the
reign of competitive business and society, the market
is largely composed of small wage earners, whose
necessities are so great, whose tenure of employment
is so uncertain, and whose wages are so scanty ; that
they are forced to buy the cheapest of everything.
On the part of tradespeople, the fierce competition
to control this cheap market, encourages the use of
an outrageous system of food adulteration, and with
it, every possible degree of lying, cheating, fraud
and deception ; until the moral tone of both business
and society, has become blunted ; yes, well nigh de
stroyed. As a result of this shameful state of com
mercial affairs, the successful man in any line of
business, can no longer afford to be honest. He
knows very well, that in competitive business, he
can utterly ignore honor, conscience, and self-respect,
without losing the approval of competitive society.
Can such a rotten society ever become a safe foun
dation for the government of a true republic ?

"It is to be the mission of the New Crusade to
teach and to demonstrate, that under the reign of a

SOLARIS FARM. 431

co-operative system, and society, these conditions
would be reversed. All incentives to cheapen goods,
or to adulterate food products, would vanish. The
co-operators would then form the bulk of the market.
Buying at wholesale collectively, to sell to them
selves individually ; they would be in a financial
condition to pay remunerative prices, for whatever
was genuine, pure, wholesome, good, reliable and
lasting. Inferior articles, they would not purchase
at any price. The demand for cheap stuff would
cease. The dominant motive of the commercial
world, would be revolutionized. Among manufac
turers and producers, the cry would be, not how
cheap, but how excellent, can we make our goods !
The long-practiced, skillful chicanery of competitive
methods, would be at a discount; they would be
worse than useless ! Honest men could then engage
in business, without violating either honor, or con
science ! Cheating and lying, would no longer form
a part of the business code ! At all times, and under
all circumstances, to respect the sacredness of life,
and the natural rights of man, would become the
universal watchword ! Justice would dethrone chari
ty ! The high moral tone of the industrial and com
mercial world, would pervade the social and political.
The injury of the weakest, would become the concern
of the strongest. The rising tide of humanitarianism
would submerge poverty. The fires of ignorance
and crime, would be extinguished by its conquering
flood.

"Than this, no lesson more important, could be
taught to the people. The scales of selfishness
having fallen from their eyes, they can be made to
understand, that all of these wonderful things may
be accomplished, quickly and easily, by the plain,

432 SOLARIS FARM.

practical methods of unselfish co-operation. Methods,
whose assured results are as easily demonstrable, as
the solution of a mathematical problem. Once con
vinced, they will make haste to discard the wasteful
methods of the competitive system ; substituting
therefor, the co-operative conservation of national
wealth. In this conservation, the wealth of the
unit, will be the measure of the wealth of the nation.

' 'This conservation will usher in a new era, of the
means of gathering, and of the higher uses of
national wealth. A magnificent national fund, ac
cumulated for the benefit, education, refinement and
enjoyment of all. The swiftness of its accumulation
and the magnitude of its billions, will become the
marvel of the world ! By contrast, all former
standards of the wealth of nations, will fade and
shrink to insignificance ! Why must this prove true ?
Because, under the beneficent reign of co-operative
equality, money, shorn of its power, would only be
valued for its use. The store of national wealth,
being for the equal use and benefit of every individual
citizen; the incentive for its accumulation, would
inspire all alike. As a result, the people as a mass
would enjoy all the benefits of great wealth, minus
its burdens, abuses, temptations and dangers. In
this, any one of them might be envied by the com
petitive millionaires.

' 'Among the many lessons in addition to those en
umerated, which the Crusade must teach to the
people ; I would strongly emphasize the following :

"That human life, as the flower and fruit of the
planet — each individual being a microcosm of the
macrocosm — must always be held as the most sacred
and the most precious of all things. Because it is
the object and purpose, the beginning, the expression.

SOLARIS FARM. 433

the commandment and the fulfillment of the law.

"That the law of life and the law of progress, are
complements of each other. Like twin sisters, they
act as a bond between the systems of the universe f
they embrace all things, from an atom to the Infinite !

' 'That activity, is the expression of life ! Necessity
and glory, are the two poles of human activity ; its
inspiration and its motor power !

"It is the evident purpose of natural law, that the
activity of man shall unceasingly produce for all,
an abundance of the necessities, comforts and lux
uries of life.

"Ignorance, is the giant who bars the pathway of
progress ! Labor from necessity, reigns as a rule,
in all ages of ignorance ! Misery and poverty, are
its children !

"Labor for glory, marks the age of enlightened
progress, where all may have an opportunity to ex
press individuality, through their handiwork; to
taste the great joy, that comes with the conscious
ness of participation in spontaneous, unselfish, in
telligent activity, which shall insure the reign of
perpetual peace and plenty. In this, man's conquest
over matter, becomes the true glory of labor !' In
the variety of self-chosen, self -directed, co-operative,
productive labor, is found life's greatest blessing.

"Organized, unselfish co-operation, will teach the
people to appreciate the dignity, and the true nobility
of labor. From it, they will learn that labor, how
ever simple or insignificant, is far nobler than any
kind of enervating idleness ; no matter how much
that idleness may be gilded by the varnish of honor!
Godin says : 'A day's work well done, is worth more
than a whole existence of inactivity ! '

' ' Labor develops the possibilities of life ! It is the

434 SOLARIS FARM.

effective instrument which makes possible the pro
gress of nations, the emancipation of peoples ! The
labor of passing ages has evolved a fund of ideas,
best adapted to guide humanity towards a true inter
pretation of the object and purpose of human life.

1 'Labor will cease to be a burden, when man com
prehends its true mission. Stripped of its drudgery,
released from the harness of toil and the spur of
necessity, the brightness of the blessing of labor
shines forth resplendent. In the halo of this radiant
truth, can anyone be guilty of a blasphemy, which
degrades labor to the penalty of a punishment.

"The question of politics is intimately associated
with the question of labor. The science of politics,
is the science of life. Government, is its expression.
Self-government by the individual, is its keynote.
The study of this science should be pursued by all
classes, with the enthusiasm born of a religious zeal.
A few of its most important principles may be found
embodied in the following propositions. If we wish
to be able to take an interest in moral life ; we must
first satisfy the demands of physical life. If we
wish to practice justice, we must first learn the law
of Right and Duty ; that is, in striving to satisfy our
own material wants, we must learn how to protect
the rights of others. We must remember, that they
too are toiling for the same purpose.

"In order to protect the welfare of each political
unit, these principles must form the basis of all
scientific politics. In the social units evolved by co
operative life, these conditions are embodied and ex
pressed. In them, we shall find the basis upon
which to build a grand, social, industrial and politi
cal organization. An organization, which shall truly
represent Liberty and Justice ; which, in its expres-

SOLARIS FARM. 435

sion as a whole, shall be the government of the New
Republic !

"Co-operation is the foe of despotism! Associ
ated, intelligent, political co-operation, is the edu
cator which shall teach the people, that a true re
public cannot exist until, in the minds of its leaders,
every vestige of the spirit of despotism has been
cast out.

"In the accomplishment of this great political
work, faith in the destiny of this republic, its people,
and its mission, is to prove a most important factor.
To endow a people with faith, is to multiply their
strength tenfold ! Faith, reinforced by knowledge,
is an irresistible force, against which naught can
prevail ! Hence, it becomes imperative, that in each
school and kindergarten of the republic, its children
should be taught in broad outlines, the vastness of
its territory, and the magnitude of its natural re
sources.

"I cannot too strongly emphasize the necessity
for this important part of the political education of
children ! As the future guardians and law makers
of the republic, its children should acquire a thorough
knowledge of the widely diversified characteristics
of each geographical sub-division. This, they must
accomplish, before they can be prepared to appreciate
the overshadowing significance, of its past, present,
and future destiny.

"The kindergarten offers perfect conditions, for
the introduction of a primary course of this political
instruction. By using a large outline map, showing
the geographical and geological formation, the miner
al deposits, the extent or area of timbered and agri
cultural lands, the manufacturing centers, the princi
pal wagon-roads and lines of transportation, the

436 SOLARIS FABM.

natural trade centers, the population, the schools,
the chief officers, and the well known political leaders
of each sub-division; a series of intellectual ex
cursions could be so arranged, and made so interest
ing to the children, that they would soon master
these statistics, as identified with every State and
Territory in the Republic. Having finished the sub
divisions, attention could then be given to a much
larger map of the United States, on which the States
and Territories on a smaller scale, would show the
same statistics. From this map, the study of the
political statistics of the States and Territories, by
groups, could then be commenced.

"A comparative study of the groups, would be full
of interest for the children, and would offer a great
number of delightful surprises. The six groups in
natural order, should be classified as follows : The
New England, the Middle, the Southern States ; the
States of the great basin of the Mississippi Valley,
including the imperial State of Texas; the Rocky
Mountain States, and the States of the Pacific Slope,
including that remarkable, and only partially ex
plored Territory, Alaska.

"From these group studies, the children may
learn many object lessons, which might demonstrate
to them, the natural supremacy of this republic,
over other nations. I may mention the following,
as noteworthy : The Great Lakes of the Middle
West ; with a coast line of more than three thousand
miles in length ; with an interstate commerce which
exceeds in tonnage, the combined shipping trade of
France and Germany. The marvelous capacity of
the great agricultural States of the Mississippi
Valley to become the granary of the world; to
furnish its entire food supply, of bread, beef and

SOLARIS FARM. 43?

pork. The imperial State of Texas, with its wealth
of wheat, cane, corn, cotton and cattle; with a
domain so wide, that it equals in extent, that of
Great Britain, European Turkey, Switzerland, Den
mark and Portugal. Again, passing to the utter
most regions of the Great Northwest, we should find
the mammoth Territory of Alaska, rich in its un
explored forests, mineral deposits and golden sands;
with a picturesque coast line of fabulous extent,
stretching away to the North far beyond the Arctic
Circle, indented by a multitude of romantic bays
and inlets, where jutting crags, bold promontories of
basaltic rock, countless islands, sparkling water and
shining glaciers, fill the measure of beauty and
grandeur.

"Thus educated, the future guardians of the politi
cal welfare of the republic, would understand the
natural wants of its widely separated sub-divisions ;
they would fully appreciate the significance of its
destiny as a nation. They would always be loyal to
the demands of that destiny, which should be com
mensurate with its inexhaustable resources, with
the magnitude of its domain. A domain so immense,
that when compared with the countries of the Old
World, without counting island possessions, or the
Territory of Alaska, it exceeds in extent, the com
bined areas of China proper, Japan, Austria, Ger
many, Prance, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, Bel
gium, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzer
land, Great Britain, and European Turkey. With
the hearts of its voters inspired by such patriotic
teachings, the Republic must endure ; must fulfill
its prophetic destiny ! Naught can prevail against
it ! Not even the selfish schemes of a corrupt oli
garchy; no matter how boldly they plan or how

438 SOLARIS FARM.

many billions of capital they may control !

"In teaching these things, my children; also in
enlarging and perfecting the work of the Crusade, I
can promise you the support and co-operation of the
spirit world. The broad outlines, which I have
given, will suggest the more complete details of the
work, which I now leave in your hands. "

"That thought alone, Mr. Fenwick," said Fillmore,
"ought to prove a tower of strength to us. May we
not make that co-operation more effective, by a closer
study of the conditions that prevail, and of the laws
which govern spirit life ? "

"Later on my son, that will be advisable. But
just at present, it is of the utmost importance,
that every effort should be made to improve the
social, industrial, mental and physical condition of
mortals, as the necessary foundation for true spiritual
growth.

* ' Mental growth must precede the spiritual. Power
exercised by the mind over the body, in moulding
physical structure, multiplies the power of the spirit
acting on matter, again reacting on both mind and
body. Consciousness, is spiritual life. To enlarge
the sphere of consciousness, is to add to spiritual
growth. Evolution, is nature's effort towards pro
gression. The new spiritual era, which began with
the last half of the nineteenth century, was marked
by a dawning consciousness in the mind of man, that
he might become a self-directing factor in his own
evolution. This consciousness in turn, became the
starting point of spiritual evolution on the mortal
plane of existence. The last, having been made
possible by the first.

"Reasoning from the premises stated, we must
logically conclude that the embodiment of more

SOLARIS FARM. 439

mind, of better mind, is a matter of the utmost im
portance to the whole human race. As body and
brain are working parts of the mind, its machinery
of expression; it is equally important, that both
mind and body should be perfected together. Hence,
the necessity for better social conditions, more
financial independence, less labor, more leisure, long
er life and larger brain capacity ; and finally, as the
crowning requirement, to be well born ! To banish
poverty, is to make these things possible.

"Before a proper conception of the spiritual world
can be entertained by mortals, their minds, by
the aid of the sciences, must have acquired such
knowledge of their environments, as shall satisfy
the requirements of spiritual evolution. Every item
of real knowledge thus gained, is just so much added
preparation towards the understanding of the spirit
ual ; towards a harmonious interblending, and co
operation of the two worlds. In accordance with
the law of progression, truth, to the ever changing
stages of consciousness, is relative. In order to
illustrate the relativity of truth, and the magnitude
of the domain of knowledge in the mortal state,
which must be conquered before consciousness can
be extended beyond the confines of the spiritual;
let us consider the following, somewhat approximate
postulates.

"Let us suppose, that the life of the planet, Earth,
embraces all forms of life; each individual life
pulsating in harmony with the great mother heart
of the planet.

"Let us suppose, that spirits, both embodied and
disembodied, incarnate and excarnate, considered as
a mass, may act as the terrurgic spiritual body and
brain of the planet ; subjective and responsive to

440 SOLARIS FARM.

the inspiration and guidance of the universal cosmic
mind, acting from the cosmic center.

"Let us suppose, that the material world, with
the atom as its smallest unit, is the medium of
mortal existence. Again, that the impalpable ether
of the interstellar spaces, is the medium of existence
for the spiritual world. And again, as a measure of
the fineness of ether, that the difference between an
ether particle and an atom, should be as wide as the
difference between the atom and the planet.

"Considering these posits as a basis for comparing
life in the two realms, we at once perceive that life,
organized to correspond with the coarse meshes of
the material plane of existence, can be permeated,
filled and quickened, by organized spiritual life,
without disturbing the unity of either organization.
The interblending of spirit and matter, is accom
plished. The mystery of the dual existence of soul
and body, is explained. The soul in the body, yet,
not of the body ! The permanent and the enduring,
mated with the changing and the ephemeral ! The
cell life of the physical, with the soul life of the
eternal !

"In comparing the two states of existence, the
physical with the spiritual, we find the horizon of
consciousness in the former, is vaguely defined and
very much limited ; while in the latter, it is sharply
defined and widely extended. The more we study
and compare, the more readily we understand, that
space, duration, size, minuteness, solidity and po
rosity, are all relative terms which depend for their
significance entirely on the standpoint of conscious
ness. So apparent is this fact, that we soon learn
how impossible it is for the mortal mind to under
stand, even the more simple elements of spirit life,

SOLARIS FARM. 441

until the dual or spiritual mind, with its conscious
ness, has grown and unfolded to the required extent.
Hence, growth of consciousness, is growth of spirit ;
the spirit which molds and controls matter.

"Self-conscious consciousness, is the immortal
ego ! As a part of the progressive, all inclusive,
spiritual life of the planet, it takes part in the evo
lution and progression of the mass. This mass, in
the fulfillment of the purpose of existence, is sub
jective and responsive to cosmic law, and to cosmic
inspiration.

"In these postulates, we have the key which un
locks the mystery of life. We catch a glimpse of its
true meaning, purpose, glory and grandeur. They
raise the theory and practice of human progress to
a question of the first magnitude ; to a science of
life, which demands the attention of every student.
The school of human life, lies at the base of the
curiculum of knowledge. It becomes the foundation
of spiritual progress, as well. Hence, the importance
of rightly cultivating the mind, of extending its
consciousness to the uttermost limits of human
capacity.

"Selfishness and despotism, are frowning barriers
across the pathway of human progress. They thrive
by war. War, is the foe of spirituality, the mother
of 'murder ! War must be abolished, before man can
hope for true spiritual evolution ! It is the fortunate
destiny of this republic, to lead the race in a crusade
against it ; to open the way for its final abolition.
It is to be the province of the Crusade to teach the
people, that war has been the scourge of humanity
since the beginning of the historical era ; the greatest
crime ever perpetrated against the sacredness of
human life ! Peace, multiplies the products of labor.

442 SOLARIS FARM.

Labor, is the genius of life ! War, destroys the
laborer and his product. War is the genius of death !
War, is a symbol of barbarism ; it is both the throne
and the refuge of despotism. For the purpose of
maintaining despotism, people for centuries have
been subjected to the hard conditions of unremitting
toil, that they might endure the fatigues of war
without a murmur. For the same reason, despots
have kept the masses in ignorance, lest they should
discover the true quality of justice ; the moral law,
which condemns both despotism and war ; lest they
should come to realize all the horrors of the most
outrageous crime possible to the conception of human
reason ; the crime of war ! War is such an over
whelming calamity, that it is almost impossible to
estimate the ruin and the destruction which it has
wrought ! If the millions of lives and the billions of
treasure spent in the world's wars, had been em
ployed in protecting the people, in generating, rear
ing, sustaining and developing them to the highest
attainable point, this earth would now witness a
social millennium; where peace and prosperity, high
culture and harmonious brotherhood, would reign
supreme !

"I rejoice, that I am permitted to prophesy its
downfall ! Long before the close of the twentieth
century, standing armies will disappear; war will
be at an end; the angel of peace will spread her
white wings over all the nations of the earth ! This
Crusade, is the beginning of the end ! For the en
couragement of our Crusaders, I will indicate two
causes, acting from opposite directions, which will
serve to hasten war's dissolution.

"First: The competitive system, for centuries,
has been war's chief recruiting office. Under its

SOLARIS FARM. 443

reign, in the fierce struggle for existence, it has kept
up a perpetual warfare between man and man ;
always the stronger against the weaker. When
vanquished, the weaker as a last resort, could and
did, enlist as a soldier. Thanks to the co-operative
farm, spread broadcast by the Crusade ; the early
substitution of the co-operative, for the competitive
system, will make the weak strong; make them
financially independent ! Soldiering as a trade, is
made possible by poverty ! Whenever a people are
emancipated from the cringing slavery of want,
naturally averse to being slaughtered, they will rise
enmasse, and refuse to be apprenticed to the brutal
trade of killing their kind. Thus it will happen,
that armies will melt away and disappear, for the
want of fighting men !

"Second : Strange as it may appear, the inventors
of mighty engines of war, of terrible explosives, of
deadly missiles, each in turn, more horribly destruct
ive than the others ; are all envoys of peace ; that
sweet peace, which shall bring rest, renewed energy,
and swift progress, to all classes. Through the
multiplied and combined efforts of these inventors, the
bloody and barbarous art of war, is fast becoming so
suicidal, and so financially disastrous to the nations
of the earth who have the misfortune to engage in
it ; that such as wish to preserve a national exist
ence, must do so by making haste to ally themselves
with the friends of universal peace, through inter
national arbitration.

1 'Under such circumstances, the nations of the
earth, ground between the inexorable, upper and
lower millstones of the first and second cause, acting
under pressure of self-preservation, will, with one
accord, join in covenanting for a total disarmament,

444 SOLARIS FARM.

and a perpetual peace. All hail, the glad day !

"Then, will dawn man's era of true spiritual evo
lution ! Then, will the true object and purpose of
life, be understood ! Then, will the sacredness of
human life, be rightly conceived, appreciated, main
tained and respected ! Then, wholesale murder, no
longer sanctioned by man-made laws, it will be pos
sible to banish the spirit of murder from the life of
the individual ! Then, the lesser crimes, the demons
of despotic selfishness, greed, cruelty, and lust for
power, which now clog progress and prevent the
realization of a practical brotherhood for humanity,
can be shaken off and rendered harmless !

"Then, the emancipated legions of toilers, will
rise to a true understanding of the blessing of labor
as the real expression of life ; that the glory of
labor, is man's conquest over matter; that food,
shelter, raiment, and sustenance for body, mind and
soul, are the essential elements of life; a natural
equipment for the conquest ! Then, it will be the
province of a natural religion to teach the people
how to help themselves ! how to master the great
problem of physical life, by attaining the greatest
perfection in feeding, clothing, housing, educating,
and spiritualizing humanity !

"Then, the solidarity of the spiritual welfare of
mankind, will equal that of the physical ! Then, the
measure of spiritual progress achieved by the mass,
will be the measure of progress attained by its
weakest unit ! Then, will come perfect co-operation,
between the spiritual and the physical ! Then, will
come the reign of liberty and justice, the guardian
spirits of a true republic ! Then, will come the
social, the industrial, and the spiritual millennium !
Then, the barriers of selfishness will have been

SOLARIS FARM. 445

burned away ; the two worlds will be united ; in the
new atmosphere of brotherly love, spirit and mortal
may harmoniously walk, talk, and work together
for the perfection of the race !

"Then, the great armies of the world, no longer
in the guise of organized barbarism, or a tax on the
industries of the nations, will be converted into
armies of peace, engaged in the production of real
wealth ! Then, the heretofore undreamed of store of
public wealth, will, in its proper distribution, give
to all mankind, the acme of universal education,
civilization and happiness ! "

CONCLUSION.

Born leaders of a progressive age ; filled with the
inspiration of 'one great purpose in life ; at all times,
equal to the demands of the hour; hand in hand,
with hearts united by the bonds of a supreme love ;
nobly unselfish, and spiritually refined; generous,
handsome, accomplished ; wealthy, eloquent and mag
netic ; Fillmore and Fern, our hero and heroine, were
everywhere recognized as a commanding force in the
social and political world. A force which quickly
overcame all opposing obstacles. They were so
much interested, and so absorbed in the ever in
creasing success of the Crusade, that the happy
months and years flew swiftly by. Their devotion
to each other, was a potent charm which begat in
the hearts of a legion of admiring followers, an
intense loyalty to them, and to the banner of the
Crusade, which had led them to so many victories in
the cause of humanity.

446 SOLARIS FARM.

The second decade of the century was throbbing
with the birth of epoch-making events. The astro
logical forces seemed in conjunction with planetary
evolution. The time was ripe for the incoming wave
of a new social era. The spirit of progress was
brooding in the air; stirring in the hearts of the
people, who hailed the Crusaders as blessed evangels
of the new life, for which they had yearned and
prayed so many years. The gospel of the new life,
was the gospel of co-operative labor. The wonderful
strength and effectiveness of the co-operative farm
movement, to lift the laborer from conditions of
ignorance and poverty, to those of financial inde
pendence, comfort and refinement; was practically
demonstrated, a thousand times over. To the people,
each demonstration was an ever growing source of
astonishment and delight. The enthusiasm aroused,
burning with the fires of a religious zeal, irresistibly
drew them into the ranks of this powerful organiza
tion. With rapidly increasing numbers, it swept
over the land with the force and fury of a great tidal
wave ! In its track, on the ruins of the competitive
system, there was established, the reign of co
operative peace and plenty, the social and political
millennium.

Among the leaders of the Crusade, assembled at
Washington, George and Gertrude Gerrish were
especially prominent. To them was assigned the
task of organizing the lecturing or missionary bureau
of the Crusade ; its trained force of traveling edu
cators. The good work accomplished by this force,
was another well earned tribute to their extraordinary
skill as organizers. As well fitted for the responsible
duties; George Gay lord and Honora Eloise Hough ton,
having become inseparable friends, engaged lovers,

SOLARIS FARM. 447

and finally a well-mated, conjugal couple; were
placed in charge of the traveling educators on the
Pacific Slope. So eloquently and effectively did
they labor in this wide field, that throughout its
length and breadth, they became very popular, win
ning hosts of friends for themselves and the cause.

Solaris Farm and village, the working center of
the movement, soon doubled many times, its territory
and population. It became an important manufac
turing center, which made an ideal home for the
National Co-operative Farm School ; a normal school,
which every year graduated teachers by the score.
The history of Solaris as the initial farm made it so
famous, that thousands of enthusiastic co-operators
annually vis't it. It is the business of the reception
committee appointed by the normal school, to re
ceive, entertain and instruct these visitors.

Gilbert Gerrish, true to his arisen sweetheart, and
to his own peculiar purpose in life ; declined to leave
Solaris, with his parents. Indeed, he was so uni
versally beloved by its young people, that they could
not, and would not give him up ! To the visiting
stranger, he seems by far the most popular and the
most highly honored young man in the village. This
distinguished consideration, he has rightfully and
honestly earned. Happy himself, in generously
using his rare gifts for making other people happy !

Thus endeth the story of Solaris Farm. May its
purposes haunt the minds of its readers, like the
memories of some prophetic dream, which may not
be obliterated, which can not be forgotten.

A FEW POINTERS FROM THE PEN OF
THE REVIEWER.

Solaris Farm is the title of a new book "with a purpose." In
fact it is a book with many purposes. While the author writes
intelligently and forcefully upon stirpiculture, education, inven
tion, hygfene, sanitation, moral, physical and mental growth and
culture, and injects many new, beautiful and practical thoughts
into each of these subjects, his chief theme is unselfish co-opera
tion, his chief purpose is to exhibit the benefits, moral, phyiscal,
social and financial, that will be showered upon the human family
when they become wise enough to cease competing with each other,
and progressive enough to begin co-operating.

The story is the logical development of the following situation :

Fern Fenwick, an heiress to a vast estate, had promised her
father before his death to use a good share of the Fenwick millions
in bettering the condition of the race. Her first experiment is a
co-operative farm of about five thousand acres, whereon about two
hundred and fifty families settle and work out the many problems
which the author desires to discuss.

In all of these operations she has the able assistance of Fillmore
Flagg, a farmer's son, who, having seen his father and dozens of
his old neighbors crushed in spirit and broken in fortune by the
resistless trend of events under the competitive system with all
its waste of misdirected energy, has become disgusted with the
meager results of farm work and having by great energy obtained
a practical education has determined to do something for the allevi
ation of the miseries of a competition crushed society.

He meets Fern Fenwick and is by her employed to superintend
the co-operative farm.

A very pretty little love story, which the author has told with
pleasant humor, is the result of their meeting, but the weightier
themes with which the book is filled are likely to more fully en
gross the attention of the reader.

Co-operative ventures have usually been founded upon some
" ism," and were held together by its religious or other influence.
In the Solaris Farm colony a very comprehensive scheme of insur
ance against accident, poverty, sickness and old age is the binding

15

11

principle. The premium is the profit which the co-operators col
lectively make by producing what they want (or by buying at
wholesale what they cannot produce) and selling the same to them
selves individually at regular market rates. The excellence of
their wares attract many purchasers from the outside and the profits
resulting therefrom also tend to swell the insurance fund of the
co-operators.

All kinds of business, and manufacturing are carried on by the
co-operators in addition to farming. Co-operative thinking solves
the knottiest problems for the colony, invention flourishes and,
once started, money flows into their coffer at a fairly satisfactory
rate.

Co-operation is the key-word, the essence, the very soul of
Solaris Farm. All the successes achieved by the characters that
people the book are the results of co-operative working, thinking
and saving. Every stockholder lends a hand, and lo ! the hours of
labor are short and delightful ; when a disagreeable task must be
done, co-operative thinking invents a machine which does the
work better than a man could do it ; the dignity of toil is estab
lished on a sure foundation, and the statement that "muscular
effort is a mental demonstration," is verified.

" Will it pay ? " is sometimes called " the American question."
In Solaris Farm the author has successfully undertaken to present
an unselfishness that will pay — not in the fairy gold of a far-off
Heaven, but in the coin of the realm, here and now. Leisure
for study and recreation ; books, pictures, objects of beauty and
art ; better health ; longer life ; the society of delightful people
none of whom are competing for the lion's share, but all of whom
are co-operating for the benefit of the community ; absence of the
fear of poverty ; certainty of support in sickness and old age ; — all
these and thousands of other comforts are some of the certain
wages of unselfishness.

A feature of Solaris Farm which will commend itself to every
well-wisher of the race is the high estimate which the author
places on humanity. Man, he says, is the flower and fruit of the
planet, its highest and best product. To arrive at the highest
point possible in his evolution, it is necessary . for him to be well
born and this necessitates happy, healthy, prosperous parents and
proper environments. To follow out this idea to its logical con
clusion would be to repeat the author's arguments, for he has com
pletely filled the field. The reader is referred to the story for the
facts proving that unselfish co-operation will furnish everything

Ill

needful for the complete unfoldment of the now almost dormant
possibilities of human nature.

The pursuit of happiness and the hope of its ultimate possession
is the motor which induces all human endeavor. No act is ever
done except in obedience to this law of our nature which compels
us to seek pleasure. Ignorance of the nature of true pleasure has
led us after many a will-o'-the-wisp, and our unlearned race has
soiled its garments many times in error, commonly called " sin."
" Sinful pleasures," against which our parents, the clergy, and all
moral philosophers have warned us, do not exist. There is no
pleasure in sin. Our race beliefs, based upon untruth and ignor
ance, have bequeathed us a heritage of appetites, passions and
desires which are wrong, and hurtful when gratified.

Among the most hurtful of race beliefs is the fixed idea that
labor is a curse. Nothing could be further from the truth. As
has been aptly said : " Art is the expression of a man's joy in his
work." Labor — muscular exertion, having a definite productive
object — is a blessing and a joy when the worker is in love with his
work. Work is a curse only under the competitive system, which
by its wasteful methods extends the hours of toil beyond the limits
of endurance, robs the worker of the full benefits of his labor and
gives him no time for self -improvement. The experience of the
stockholders of Solaris Farm shows how the ancient curse was
removed by unselfish co-operation, and labor crowned with the
dignity that is its due.

While Solaris Farm was not intended as a propaganda of spirit
ualism, that cult has been introduced with considerable dramatic
effect for two apparent reasons. The first and least important of
these reasons is to cater to the ever-growing taste of the reading
public for the occult ; but the second reason is peculiar to the book.
In discussing man as the most valuable product of the planet, and
the relation which the soul bears to the body, it became necessary
to approach the subject from the view-point of one who is in nowise
affected by the petty altercations, jealousies and strifes of the
world ; one who knows by experience all the hardships of life and
its many temptations, but who has also progressed beyond the
sphere of their influence. The most natural and obvious way of
obtaining this coveted point of observation was to let the spirit of
such a noble character as Fennimore Fenwick speak from the full
ness of his experience, both as mortal and spirit, of the needs of
the race, the curse of competition, the value of propej- environmental
conditions for perfect motherhood, pre-natal education and ade-

IV

quate training of mind and body, such as may not be secured even
by the most wealthy in the present condition of society, but which
would be the heritage of every individual in a co-operative com
munity. The utterances of Fennimore Fenwick rank with the best
thought on these subjects and no person can read them without
having implanted in his breast a higher regard for his race, and a
greater solicitude for the material and spiritual unfoldment of
humanity.

For many years, orators and agitators have vied with each other in
proclaiming that capital and labor were the two factors of financial
success. They were and still are mistaken. Within the pages of
Solaris Farm the reader is given the true formula, which may be
algebraically stated thus : " Capital -f- Labor -f- Brains = Financial
Success." Financial Success, however is not the complete
product of these factors when selfishness, greed and wasteful
competition are eliminated from the equation by the substitution
of unselfish co-operation. The happy result of the experiment at
Solaris Farm must convince the reader of the correctness of the
formula and the value of the substitution.

In considering the broad field covered by this attractive book ;
its wide departure from the mission of the ordinary novel, its prob
able use as a text-book of advanced thought on t ue socialism,
progressive co-operation, a new order of political economy and the
ways and means of making colony life desirable, successfully
coherent, self-supporting and practically delightful ; the price of
Solaris Farm (50 cts, in paper covers, $1.25 in cloth binding) will
commend itself to the purchaser as not only reasonably moderate,
but also if he be an interested reader, with business intentions,
that the large end of the bargain is very much in his favor.

Solaris Farm was written by Captain Milan C. Edson, whose
military title was earned during the great Civil War. He was a
farmer and the son of a farmer. He enlisted as a private soldier
and without influence rose to a captaincy by merit and bravery
alone. He is a profound thinker, a lover of his race and has given
many years to the study of social and political questions. It has
been his desire to found a community where his ideas of true suc
cess might be wrought out, as an object lesson to the world, of the
advantages of unselfishness. This pleasure having been denied
him, he has incorporated his leading ideas in Solaris Farm, in the
hope that some one more fortunate than himself may be able to
receive the blessings which must inevitably flow from such a noble
life.

'

RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED

This book is due on the last date stamped below, or

on the date to which renewed.
Renewed books are subject to immediate recall.

fNTERLJBF

ARY LOAN

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<KUF., BERK.

LD 21-32m-3,'74
(R7057slO)476 — A-32

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